Introduction
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses that can be transmitted through exposure to blood, and they have the potential to make anyone who is exposed very ill. While it might seem like bloodborne pathogen training wouldn't be necessary in a workplace that doesn't involve regular contact with blood, this isn't always true. For example, even if your job does not require handling or working with bodily fluids of any kind (which is highly unlikely), you may still need this certification if you regularly work around other people's bodily fluids. This could include anything from working in an emergency room setting where patients are constantly coming into the hospital with cuts that bleed profusely, or being exposed on a daily basis to waste products that contain human feces or urine as well as viruses found within them such as hepatitis A virus (HAV)
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses that can cause illness in humans.
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses that can cause illness in humans. Bloodborne pathogens include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis. These viruses can be transmitted by contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). For example:
- Injection drug use--injecting drugs into the bloodstream using needles that have been used previously by another person to inject their own drugs.
- Tattooing--using unsterilized needles or equipment to create tattoos on people's skin. Tattooing also exposes both the artist and customer to risk of infection from each other's blood if they touch each other while working or after finishing a tattoo session respectively; however, this type of transmission is less likely than injection drug use since there is no direct contact between bodies as there would be during sex acts involving multiple partners where all individuals involved could potentially come into contact with each other's bodily fluids such as semen/semen-containing vaginal secretions/vaginal secretions containing cervical mucus etcetera depending on what sexual activities were performed prior before ejaculation occurs during intercourse itself."
The need for bloodborne pathogen training has never been higher.
The need for bloodborne pathogen training has never been higher. In the last decade, we've seen a rise in the number of people who are being exposed to bloodborne pathogens and contracting diseases like hepatitis B and HIV. This is due to a number of factors:
- More people are being exposed at work or on the job site--especially healthcare workers, who may be exposed when treating patients who have contracted these diseases or during surgeries and other procedures where there is a risk of contamination.
- More people are being exposed in hospitals and clinics--especially nurses, doctors, and dentists who come into contact with patients' bodily fluids during procedures like needle sticks (where an accidental prick occurs).
- More prisoners are being tested for certain sexually transmitted infections while incarcerated; they can then pass those infections onto others once they're released from prison if precautions aren't taken beforehand (e.g., condoms).
You can take bloodborne pathogen training online or in a classroom setting.
Bloodborne pathogens training is available online or in a classroom setting. Both options cost money, but they're still affordable depending on your needs and budget. If you want to take the course quickly and easily, online training may be right for you. It's convenient because there are no scheduled classes or exams--you can complete the entire course at home at your own pace! You might also consider this option if your employer does not provide on-site training opportunities for employees who live far away from them (or if those locations don't have room for everyone).
For those who prefer an instructor-led environment with face-to-face interaction and group discussions, classroom settings are more appropriate than online ones since they offer more interaction between students/instructors while providing extra support when needed during times of uncertainty regarding specific topics within each chapter being covered during class hours."
All employers must provide bloodborne pathogen training to employees that regularly engage in work activities that may expose them to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
All employers must provide bloodborne pathogen training to employees that regularly engage in work activities that may expose them to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). The training must be provided at no cost to the employee, and it must be offered once per year.
The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires you as an employer to ensure that your workers receive appropriate instruction on how to recognize the hazards associated with exposure to bloodborne pathogens and how they can protect themselves from these hazards.
Employers must keep a copy of the training certificate on file for every employee who receives it.
Employers must keep a copy of the training certificate on file for every employee who receives it. Records must be kept for three years and made accessible to inspectors upon request.
The training must be documented in writing and provided at no cost to employees who are exposed to bloodborne pathogens while working in an occupation involving possible exposure (OPIM). The training should occur when an employee first begins to work in an occupation where occupational exposure may occur, such as a medical assistant or phlebotomist, but could also include those who might be exposed later on through their duties such as nurses or doctors who draw blood from patients' veins during surgery procedures at hospitals or clinics where there are many high-risk surgeries taking place daily (e., orthopedic surgeries involving metal implants).
Bloodborne Pathogens certification is important for anyone who might be exposed to blood in their workplace.
Bloodborne Pathogens training is important for anyone who might be exposed to blood in their workplace. Bloodborne Pathogens certification can be done online or in a classroom setting, depending on what you prefer. How do you get Bloodborne Pathogens certified? All employers must provide bloodborne pathogen training to employees that regularly engage in work activities that may expose them to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). Employers must keep a copy of the training certificate on file for every employee who receives such training, including those who received it before July 29th, 2016, until at least three years after initial employment ends or:
- The end date of any period during which an employee was not performing duties involving exposure; or
- Three years after initial employment ends
Conclusion
The need for bloodborne pathogen training has never been higher. It is estimated that each year, approximately 12 million people are exposed to potentially infectious material in the workplace and that 200,000 of those people will contract an illness as a result. As such, it's important for all employees who might be exposed to blood in their workplace (such as healthcare workers) to take this course so they can properly protect themselves against potential infections from exposure via needle puncture wounds or splashes onto open skin cuts/scrapes.