BS5531 - Bloodborne Pathogens

1. Institutional Regulations
   1. The College shall maintain a written exposure control plan for occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. The exposure control plan shall detail the specific engineering controls, training, post-exposure controls, and recordkeeping required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
   2. Employees in the following job classifications or work areas have been determined to have occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. Specific courses within these subject areas in which instructors have occupational exposure are outlined in the exposure control plan.
      1. Athletics
      2. Campus Health Specialist
      3. Custodians
      4. Health Sciences
      5. Mortuary Science
      6. Recreation/Wellness
      7. Security
      8. Supervisor Construction Services
   3. Job classifications or work areas in which some employees have occupational exposure:
      1. Biology/Chemistry Instructors
      2. Childcare
      3. Lab Assistants (Biology/Chemistry)
2. Procedure
   1. The College exposure control plan shall be reviewed and updated annually or whenever new tasks or procedures are implemented or jobs are added or revised which may involve occupational exposure. Copies of the plan shall be available in Human Resources, the Campus Health Specialist’s office, the Campus Provosts’ offices, the Academic Dean’s offices, and in the Physical Plant. The plan is also available at the following web site: http://www.dmacc.edu/HR/bbpathogenplan.pdf
   2. Precautions and Controls
      1. Universal precautions shall be observed to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Under circumstances in which differentiation between body fluid types is difficult or impossible, all body fluids shall be considered potentially infectious materials.
      2. Engineering controls, such as puncture proof containers for sharps, shall be used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure. Controls shall be examined at the beginning of each semester and maintained or replaced to ensure their effectiveness. Each department shall be responsible for examining their own controls.
      3. Work practice controls, such as hand washing, shall be used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
      4. When there is occupational exposure, appropriate personal protective equipment shall be provided to the employee at no cost and shall be used at all times. Laundering of personal protective equipment shall be provided by the College.
      5. Containers for the disposal of storage of contaminated materials shall be appropriately labeled.
      6. All employees with occupational exposure must participate in an annual training program which shall be provided during working hours at no cost to the employee.
      7. Hepatitis B vaccinations are available at no cost to all employees who have occupational exposure. Employees who decline to accept hepatitis B vaccination offered shall sign a statement of declination. An employee may initially decline hepatitis B vaccinations, but at a later date decide to accept the vaccinations.
   3. Exposure Incidents
      1. If an exposure incident occurs, the affected employee’s supervisor shall complete a DMACC Incident Report form located at http://go.dmacc.edu/safety/Pages/forms.aspx.
      2. Following a report of an exposure incident, the exposed employee shall have immediately available a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up by a qualified health care professional.
   4. All related records shall be maintained in Human Resources.
      1. Training records shall be maintained for 3 years.
      2. Medical records shall be maintained for the duration of employment plus 30 years.
         1. A medical record for each employee with occupational exposure will be established. The record shall include:
            1. The name and social security number of the employee;
            2. A copy of the employee’s hepatitis B vaccinations status including the dates of all the hepatitis B vaccinations and any medical records relative to the employee’s ability to receive the vaccination.
         2. Following an exposure incident, a copy of the information provided to the health care professional and the employer’s copy of the health care professional’s written opinion shall be placed in the file.
         3. The medical records shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed or reported without the employee’s express written consent except as required by this section or as may be required by law.