Blood borne pathogens are harmful microorganisms carried in blood and other bodily fluids. Hepatitis B, syphilis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus are some of the most dangerous blood borne pathogens that can cause deadly diseases. It is crucial to know which blood borne pathogens you may be exposed to at your work, so that you can take precautionary measures to protect yourself against infection.

Important Work Practice Controls To Prevent The Risk of Exposure To Blood Borne Pathogens

1. Protective Wear, Gloves, Masks and Other Equipment

Wearing appropriate protective clothing is important in exposure situations. You should wear gloves before touching fresh blood, bodily fluids or secretions, blood soiled clothes and other items and contaminated surfaces. Gloves are crucial while cleaning instruments and carrying out decontamination procedures. Appropriate masks and aprons, goggles or face shield should be worn, whenever there is possibility of splashing or splattering of blood or other body fluids. Ensure that the gloves are made of latex, rubber or some other strong, water impervious material. You should touch the outside of the gloves or any other protective equipment with bare skin.

2. Discarding Gloves And Other Protective Equipment

You should dispose gloves and other protective equipment carefully after treating a patient. Remove contaminated clothes as soon as possible. You should place them in approved and labeled bags. Ensure that universal precautions are followed in the laundry or housekeeping department while handling contaminated clothes.

3. Hand Washing

Hand washing is the simplest, yet most effective work practice control that helps reduce the risk of infection significantly. You should use soap and warm water to wash your hands thoroughly before and after treating an infected person.

4. Handling Sharp Objects

You should handle needles and other sharp objects, only if you have been trained in these procedures. Bending and breaking of needles and recapping of sharps are prohibited. Sharps should be placed in appropriate place for disposal after using them. The disposal container should meet the requirements of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Instructions should be provided to employees who handle these disposal containers. Instructions should be given to avoid overfilling the containers.

5. Hygiene Practices.

Eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses and applying cosmetics are strictly prohibited in work areas, where there is a risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens. Food and beverages should not be kept in refrigerators, freezers or shelves where blood or other potentially infectious body fluids are kept.

6. Sharps Containers

The sharps containers should be puncture resistant and leak proof. Proper color coding should be followed, if the container is likely to be leaking. The wastes like contaminated bandages, blood soiled clothes and disposable gloves should be placed in closable, leak proof containers.

7. Replacing Protective Equipment

You should replace protective gloves or any other equipment that is torn or punctured. Broken glassware that has been visible contaminated with blood or bodily fluid must be sterilized thoroughly using an approved disinfectant solution.

8. Decontamination

Equipment, tools and surfaces that come in contact with human blood or potentially infectious materials should be decontaminated appropriately.

Blood borne pathogens and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) training are crucial for employees who are at the risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens to understand the precautionary measures to be taken.

For more information, please visit our Bloodborne Pathogen Training website.

For more information, please visit our Bloodborne Pathogen Training website http://www.bbpexams.com/bloodborne_pathogen_training.html

Author Bio: For more information, please visit our Bloodborne Pathogen Training website.

Category: Medical Business
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