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City Construction Co., Inc.

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS FOR CONSTRUCTION

The phrase “bloodborne pathogens” sounds like something out of a medical book, and technically it is. However, you will also need to protect yourself against them if your job duties could potentially expose you to blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Bloodborne pathogens are pathogenic microorganisms. They can be viruses, bacteria, or other things that can cause disease in humans. However, the key is these microorganisms—these pathogens if you will—are found in blood. The bloodborne pathogens you hear a lot about include the hepatitis B virus and HIV (or human immunodeficiency virus), and we know these diseases can cause serious illness, even death.

Not only can bloodborne pathogens be found in blood, they can also be found in certain other body fluids known as “other potentially infectious materials” (or OPIM), and these are listed in an OSHA regulation. It’s worth noting, though, that some body fluids, like saliva, are only regulated as OPIM if they’re visibly contaminated with blood. Apparently, the concentration of the viruses in ordinary saliva is so small that scientists do not consider saliva an efficient mode of transmission unless there’s visible blood in it.

If you are a designated first aider for your company or you must clean and decontaminate bloodborne pathogen-contaminated surfaces after an incident, you may risk an exposure incident if you do not take proper precautions. An exposure incident occurs when blood or OPIM contacts your eye, mouth, nasal passage, or non-intact skin, for example.

The good news is exposure incidents are preventable. Vaccination is one way to prevent transmission of preventable diseases. Your employer may offer the hepatitis B vaccine series if you have job tasks that put you at risk. Your employer must also provide personal protective equipment (PPE) when the possibility of exposure exists. Whatever it takes to prevent exposure is the level of PPE you should be wearing when you provide first aid.

Some means you can use to reduce your risk are: 

• Do not go near blood or OPIM unless you are properly trained.
• Use universal precautions. Treat all blood and OPIM as if they were infectious.
• Use PPE and remove and dispose of it before leaving the work area or when the PPE becomes contaminated.
• Avoid spraying or splashing blood or OPIM.
• Use housekeeping procedures and dispose of contaminated sharps properly.
• Wash your hands when you remove your gloves and as soon as possible after your skin contacts any blood or OPIM.
• Use red bags or labeled biohazard containers.
• Do not eat or drink, smoke, apply makeup, or handle contact lenses in exposure areas.
• If you suffer an exposure incident, report it immediately to your employer.