Vincent J. Giblin, General President

Vincent J. Giblin, General President

1293 Airport RoadBeaver, WV 25813

Phone: (304) 253-8674Fax: (304) 253-7758

E-mail: [email protected]

Bloodborne Pathogens

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

2

This material was produced under grant number 46C5-HT16 from the

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of

Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does

mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply

endorsement by the U.S. Government.


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UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS


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TERMS USED IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

• Epidemiology - The evaluation of the causes, occurrence, distribution, and control of disease.

• Infection - The presence and multiplication of infectious microorganisms in a host’s tissue.


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TERMS USED IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

• Sub-Clinical Infection - When the reaction between an infecting agent and host is so limited that the diagnosis of infection can only be established by laboratory or other testing.

• Carrier - A person infected with a disease-causing microorganism who is free of clinical signs of the disease.


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Microorganisms that can be present in human blood and other body fluids and can spread disease. Chiefly:

• HIV, the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome)

• Hepatitis B

WHAT ARE BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS?


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HOW ARE WORKERS EXPOSED?

• While giving first aid

• By handling infectious waste or other contaminated material


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HIV• Human Immuno-deficiency Virus• Attacks body’s immune system and

causes AIDS• The HIV virus is fragile, and does not

live long outside the human body• Since symptoms may not develop for

as many as 10 years, you do not know who may be infected with HIV


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AIDS• About 220,000 Americans have

AIDS • Up to 897,000 Americans are HIV-

positive• AIDS is spread most often by male-

to-male sexual contact and IV drug use


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INITIAL SYMPTOMS OF AIDS

• Only 50% have symptoms at initial infection

• Mononucleosis-like• Constant fatigue• White spots or unusual blemishes

in the mouth• Unexplained weight loss


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HBV• Hepatitis B Virus• Starts as “inflammation of the

liver,” can cause– severe liver damage– liver cancer– death


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SYMPTOMS OF HEPATITIS B

• Flu-like• Fatigue and

weakness• Diarrhea and

vomiting• Fever• Jaundice• Loss of appetite


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HEPATITIS B IN THE U.S.• 1 to 1.25 million are carriers• 80% of these are unaware of their

infectious status• 140,000 to 320,000 infections/year • 5,000-6,000 deaths/year


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TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS B

• There is no specific treatment• Bed rest may be required• Hospitalization may be needed for

severe vomiting• Alcohol must be avoided; a low-fat

diet is recommended


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HEPATITIS B CARRIERS• Most people who are infected with

HBV get well, but some develop chronic (long-term) hepatitis

• They have vague symptoms• You can not tell who might be a

hepatitis B carrier


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THE HBV VIRUS IS TOUGH• It can live outside

the body on contaminated needles and other infectious waste

• You can get hepatitis B from dried blood


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THE HBV VIRUS IS TOUGH• You can get hepatitis B by

touching a contaminated object and then your eyes, nose, or mouth


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HIV AND HBV• Both can be found in

any body fluid that is contaminated with blood

• Can enter the body through mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, nose) or lacerated/punctured skin.


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PARENTERAL TRANSMISSION

• Occurs when skin or mucous membranes are pierced by:– puncture wounds– human bites– abrasions

• This is a risk to maintenance workers when machinery has been used in landfills


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TAKING HOME HBV AND HIV

• Both can be transmitted sexually

• Both can be passed to their babies by pregnant women

• When you protect yourself, you also protect the people you care about


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VACCINATION AGAINST HBV

• The vaccine is safe

• Almost everyone can be vaccinated

• Vaccination is recommended for anyone who is at increased risk


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RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYERS

29 CFR 1910.1030 explains the employer’s

responsibilities to protect employees:


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EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN• Describes employees at risk• Methods of eliminating or reducing

exposure• How employer will handle

exposure incidents


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REQUIRE UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS• Approach to infection control

• All human blood and some body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious


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BODY FLUIDS REQUIRING UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

• Blood• Semen and vaginal fluids (including

menstrual blood)• Amniotic (pregnancy) fluid,

cerebrospinal (brain and backbone) fluid, synovial (joint) fluid, pleural (chest) fluid, peritoneal (abdominal) fluid, pericardial (heart) fluid


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BODY FLUIDS NOT REQUIRING UNIVERSAL

PRECAUTIONS

– Feces– Nasal

secretions– Saliva– Sputum

– Sweat– Tears– Urine– Vomit

Unless visibly containing blood:


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UTILIZE ENGINEERING & WORK PRACTICE

CONTROLS• Hand washing• Use of

resuscitation devices for mouth-to-mouth breathing

• Cover broken skin• Good

housekeeping


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PROVIDE SUITABLE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE

EQUIPMENT• When appropriate,

employers must provide:– Gloves– Masks and eye

protection– Gowns, aprons,

and other PPE


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MAKE HEPATITIS B VACCINATIONS AVAILABLE• Vaccination must be offered to at-

risk employees at no charge• Employees may decline to be

vaccinated; however, they must be offered free vaccination if they change their minds


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OFFER POST-EXPOSURE EVALUATION

• Employees may be tested and vaccinated after an exposure

• A health care professional must provide a written evaluation and treatment plan


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COMMUNICATE HAZARDS TO EMPLOYEES

• Warning labels must be displayed on hazardous materials.

• Red bags or containers may substitute for labels


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COMMUNICATE HAZARDS TO EMPLOYEES

• Initial training must be offered to employees when they are assigned to jobs that involve a risk of bloodborne pathogens

• Follow-up training must be given annually


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This material was produced under grant number 46C5-HT16 from the

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of

Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does

mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply

endorsement by the U.S. Government.


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End• This publication was made possible by

grant numbers 5 U45 ES06182-13 AND 5 U45 ES09763-13 from the National Institute

of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not

necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS, NIH.

Documents

Vincent J. Giblin, General President