When a worker experiences an exposure incident, the
employer must make immediate confidential medical evaluation and follow-up available to the worker
.
What is the first thing to do if an exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials occurs?
If you are stuck by a needle or other sharp or get blood or other potentially infectious materials in your eyes, nose, mouth, or on broken skin,
immediately flood the exposed area with water and clean any wound with soap and water or a skin disinfectant if available
.
What should be done first after an exposure incident?
- Wash wounds and skin with soap and water.
- Flush mucous membranes with water.
- DO NOT USE instrument involved on patient!
- Employee must report incident immediately to supervisor/employer.
How soon after an exposure incident do you seek medical care?
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.
Who should be notified first of an exposure incident?
Reporting Incident —
Employees should immediately
report exposure incidents to the employer to permit timely medical follow-up. According to the U.S. Public Health Service, if HIV postexposure prophylaxis is medically indicated it should be initiated promptly, preferably within 1-2 hours after the exposure incident.
Why is it important to immediately report an exposure incident?
Reporting 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.
What should you do if you are exposed to blood or body fluids?
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.
- 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.
What are the key elements of CBP’s exposure control plan?
- Use engineering and work practice controls to minimize the employee‟s exposure.
- Ensure use of personal protective equipment.
- Provide training.
- Provide medical surveillance.
- Provide Hepatitis B vaccinations.
- Use signs and labels.
What is considered a blood exposure?
Exposure Incident means a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee’s duties.
What happens during post exposure follow up?
The post-exposure follow-up must include
counseling the worker about the possible implications of the exposure and his or her infection status
, including the results and interpretation of all tests and how to protect personal contacts.
Who should you report after an accidental exposure?
Report the exposure right away to
your supervisor or the person in charge
. DO NOT decide on your own whether you need more care. Your workplace will have a policy about what steps you should take after being exposed. Often, there is a nurse or another health care provider who is the expert on what to do.
What is required if a true blood exposure incident occurs?
Documentation should include
the location of the incident, device used and/or procedure performed
, personal protective equipment used and engineering controls in effect, and the applicable employee training prior to the exposure. Any changes to procedures should be noted in the Exposure Control Plan.
Why is it important to add disinfectant to dilute a concentrate?
If used at its full strength (undiluted), it will leave a residue which creates a film on the surface. Proper dilution really does matter so it is very important that disinfectants are being put through a
chemical dispensing system
to ensure they are being used correctly, and to their best potential.
How can employees minimize prevent exposure incidents?
Engineering controls are the primary means of eliminating or minimizing employee exposure and include the use of
safer medical devices
, such as needleless devices, shielded needle devices, and plastic capillary tubes.
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
.
