The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires medical follow-up for workers who have an exposure incident. Exposures should be reported
within 1 hour
if possible to allow for prompt intervention to reduce the risk of infection. Follow the protocol of your employer.
How long after blood exposure should I get tested?
To check for infection earlier, you can be tested for the virus (HCV RNA)
4-6 weeks after the exposure
. Report any symptoms sug- gesting hepatitis (mentioned above) to your healthcare provider.
What should you do immediately after being exposed to bloodborne pathogens?
- Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water.
- Flush splashes to nose, mouth, or skin with water.
- Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile wash.
- Report all exposures promptly to ensure that you receive appropriate followup care.
When should the post exposure evaluation be provided?
In order to assist the evaluating HCP in following CDC guidelines, the dental employer must ensure that the exposed employee receives immediate post-exposure evaluation
(according to the CDC, preferably within 1-2 hours, but no longer than 24 hours) after the exposure incident
.
Why is it important to immediately report an exposure incident?
Early reporting is crucial
for beginning immediate intervention to address possible infection of the worker
and can also help the worker avoid spreading bloodborne infections to others.
Can you catch a bloodborne disease if an infected person sneezes or coughs on you?
Bloodborne pathogens like Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C
(HCV)
, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are spread by direct contact with infected blood and/or body fluids. These diseases are NOT spread by casual contact (coughing, sneezing, hugging, etc.) or by food or water.
How long should you flush your eyes if exposed to a bloodborne pathogen?
Eye or mouth exposures: If your eyes are splattered with blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM), immediately flush with water or saline eyewash for
five minutes
. If blood or OPIM is splashed on your face or in your mouth, rinse with water for five minutes.
What are the action steps after an incident exposure?
Evaluate the exposure incident
. Arrange for testing of employee and source individual (if status is not already known). Notify the employee of results of all testing. Provide counseling and post-exposure prophylaxis.
What is the first step after an exposure incident?
When a worker experiences an exposure incident, the
employer must make immediate confidential medical evaluation and follow-up available to the worker
.
What steps should you take if you have an exposure incident?
Immediately report the incident to emergency medical services
. If the incident occurred at work, immediately report the incident to your supervisor. (You are protected by OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen
What is considered a BBP exposure?
An exposure to a bloodborne pathogen is defined as: 1)
a percutaneous injury, such as a needlestick or a laceration from a sharp object
, or; 2) contact of a mucous membrane or non-intact skin (i.e., skin that is abraded, chapped, or has dermatitis) with blood, tissue, or other body fluids that are potentially …
What should you do if you are exposed to a patient's blood?
Report the incident to your supervisor or the person in your practice responsible for managing exposures. Immediately seek
medical evaluation
from a qualified health care professional1 because, in some cases, postexposure treatment may be recommended and should be started as soon as possible.
Is blood exposure OSHA recordable?
Can the employer then line out the entry on the OSHA 200 Log that recorded the first-aid provider's exposure to blood? A3. No.
A bloodborne exposure incident coupled with medical treatment constitutes a recordable case
.
What is the first thing you should do if you are exposed to blood or body fluid?
Wash the area with warm water and soap
. If you are splashed with blood or body fluids and your skin has an open wound, healing sore, or scratch, wash the area well with soap and water. If you are splashed in the eyes, nose or mouth, rinse well with water. If you have been bitten, wash the wound with soap and water.
What is the most common transmission mode for blood borne infections?
For a bloodborne pathogen to be spread, the bodily fluids of an infected person must enter into the bloodstream of another person. The most common cause of transmission in the workplace is
when an infected person's blood enters another person's bloodstream through an open wound
.
Can Bloodborne pathogens be transmitted through coughing?
Some, like herpes and HPV, are spread from skin to skin rather than through blood and other bodily fluids.
Others can be transmitted through coughing
and sneezing or through contact with contaminated food. Some bloodborne pathogen may also be transmitted in other ways, such as by exposure to semen, urine, or saliva.
