Bloodborne Pathogens Information for UVM
Laboratory Employees
In Case of Exposure to
Potentially
Infectious Material, refer to
this procedure
.
Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
The Exposure
Control Plan (ECP) was created to assist UVM in implementing
and ensuring compliance with the Occupational Safety
and Health
Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne
Pathogens Standard. At UVM, the employee's
supervisor is responsible for determining whether a specific employee
is "at risk" according to the standard. OSHA defines occupational
exposure as "reasonably anticipated skin,
eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance
of an employee's duties".
All employees are expected to adhere to guidelines established
in the UVM ECP. Questions should be addressed to the laboratory
supervisor or the Environmental Safety staff
.
Information about Specific Bloodborne Pathogens:
HBV fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control in PDF format.
HCV fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control in PDF format.
HIV fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control
Overview of the Hepatitis B Vaccination Series
Paid UVM Employees who have potential for occupational exposure
to bloodborne pathogens (“at risk”) in the course
of their work are offered the Hepatitis B Vaccination series
at no cost to them. The series consists of 3 shots plus a titer
to check for immunity. The supervisor determines who is considered
at risk and fills out the Risk Designation form for those employees.
It is not required that “at risk” employees receive
the vaccination, but in either case the employee must fill out
the consent/refusal form. At risk employees who want the Hepatitis
B Vaccination series indicate consent and those who do not wish
to get the series indicate refusal. At risk employees may change
their minds at any time and request the series by filling out
a new consent/refusal form indicating consent.
Supervisors will provide training to employees on hepatitis
B vaccinations, addressing the safety, benefits, efficacy,
methods of administration, and availability. Environmental
Safety BBP safety training can also be scheduled and customized
for your group.
The hepatitis B vaccination series is available at no cost
after training and within 10 days of initial assignment to
employees identified as "at risk" in the Determination
of Employee Exposure section of this plan. Vaccination is encouraged
unless:
- the employee has previously received the series,
- antibody testing reveals that the employee is immune, or
- medical evaluation shows that vaccination is contraindicated.
If an employee chooses to decline vaccination, the employee
must sign a declination form. (Appendix H of this ECP) Employees
who decline may request and obtain the vaccination at a later
date at no cost or penalty. Documentation of refusal of the
vaccination is kept in the workplace by the supervisor.
The vaccination will be provided by the Concentra Health Care
at 7 Fayette Road, Suite 115 in South Burlington. Make
an appointment at
(802) 658-5756 . A copy of the Risk Designation Form taken
to the first appointment will assure that the employee receives
the vaccine at no charge.
Following hepatitis B vaccinations, the health care professional's
Written Opinion will be limited to whether the employee requires
the hepatitis vaccine, and whether the vaccine was administered.
Forms needed for all employees with occupational exposure
to bloodborne pathogens:
Bloodborne Pathogen Training Components
All “at risk” employees will receive laboratory
specific training conducted by their supervisor. If requested
by the supervisor, Environmental Safety staff will provide more
comprehensive Biosafety/Bloodborne Pathogens training. The laboratory
supervisor must still do training specific to the laboratory.
Environmental Safety staff offers 2 types of training: On-line
Bloodborne Pathogens Training and
Biosafety/Bloodborne
Pathogens Training as well as individual consultations for laboratory
biosafety and compliance.
“At risk” employees receive training on the epidemiology,
symptoms, and transmission of bloodborne pathogen diseases.
In addition, the training program covers the following elements:
- Explanation of the OSHA BBP Standard and how to obtain a
copy
- Explanation of the UVM ECP and how to obtain a copy
- Information on the hepatitis B vaccine series
- Information on the appropriate actions to take and persons
to contact in an emergency involving blood or OPIM
- Explanation of the procedure to follow if an exposure incident
occurs, including the method of reporting the incident and the
medical follow-up that will be made available.
- Information on the post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
that the employer is required to provide for the employee following
an exposure incident.
- Explanation of the signs and labels and/or color-coding required
by the standard and used at UVM.
- Explanation of methods to recognize tasks and other activities
that may involve exposure to blood and OPIM.
- Explanation of what constitutes an exposure incident.
- Opportunity for interactive questions and answers with the
person conducting the training session.
These items are covered in a general way in ESF trainings.
Supervisors must provide detailed information to include the
following:
- Explanation of the use and limitations of the engineering
controls, work practices, and PPE used in the workplace.
- Explanation of the types, uses, location, removal, handling,
decontamination, and disposal of PPE.
- Explanation of the basis for PPE selection.
Training materials for ESF trainings are available
from the Environmental Safety staff at esf@uvm.edu and specific material given
by the supervisor is available in the workplace.
Last Updated:
May 9, 2011
