8453.01 - CONTROL OF BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS
Introduction
OSHA’s (Occupational Safety Health Administration) Bloodborne Pathogen Standard became a law on March 6, 1992. The purpose of the standard is to limit occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. This standard was designed to prevent the number of deaths caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other infectious bloodborne pathogens.
The Standard requires employers to identify in writing persons who are at risk for exposure in the scope of their employment and to provide them the means to protect themselves against exposure. This is to include annual instruction about universal precautions; provision of personal protective equipment; a written schedule for cleaning and decontamination following contact with blood or other potentially infectious material; Hepatitis B vaccination; and availability of post-exposure evaluation and follow-up.
Records must be maintained to document compliance with the Standard and OSHA will review records periodically.
The organization and administration of this plan is the joint responsibility of the Director of Human Resources and the Director of Student Services.
The Director of Human Resources is responsible for the development of computer records of employees having occupational exposure, recording of vaccinations as completed, supervision of medical records stored in the Insurance Office, and notification of the appropriate persons as new employees having occupational exposure are hired. The Director of Student Services is responsible for the initial coordination and annual review of the Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan, training programs, teaching materials, scheduling of vaccinations and supervision of the post-exposure evaluation and follow-up program.
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard was written for general industry. This document has been written specifically to identify the School Corporation’s responsibilities to comply with the OSHA Standard. A copy of this document will be in the principal’s office or supervisor’s office in each building to insure accessibility to employees.
The exposure control plan will be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary. A complete copy of the Standard is included in this document.
Definitions
Blood means human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.
Bloodborne Pathogens means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Contaminated means the presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item or surface.
Contaminated Laundry means laundry, which has been soiled with blood or other potentially infectious materials or may contain sharps.
Contaminated Sharps means any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including, but not limited to, needles, scalpels, broken glass, art knives, and exposed ends of dental wires.
Decontamination means the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use or disposal.
Engineering Controls means controls (e.g., sharps disposal containers) that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace.
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.
Handwashing Facilities means a facility providing an adequate supply of running potable water, soap and single use towels or hot air drying machines.
Licensed Healthcare Professional is a person whose legally permitted scope of practice allows him/her to independently perform the activities required by Hepatitis B Vaccination and Post-exposure Evaluation and Follow-up.
HBV means Hepatitis B virus.
HIV means human immunodeficiency virus.
Occupational Exposure means reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of any employee’s duties.
Other Potentially Infectious Materials means:
The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, anmiotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids;
Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human including teeth.
Parenteral means piercing mucous membranes or the skin barrier through such events as needlesticks, human bites, cuts and abrasions.
Personal Protective Equipment is specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. General work clothes (e.g., uniforms, pants, shirts or blouses) not intended to function as protection against a hazard is not considered to be personal protective equipment.
Regulated Waste means liquid or semi-blood or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-blood state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Sterilize means use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all microbial life including highly resistant bacterial endospores.
Universal Precautions is an approach to infection control. According to the concept of Universal Precautions, all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens.
Work Practice Controls means controls that reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task is performed (e.g., prohibiting recapping of needles by a two-handed technique).
Exposure Determination
OSHA standards require that employers identify all employees who could be reasonably anticipated to face contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials as the result of their job duties. Employees of New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation have been categorized according to degree of risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials.
As specified in the OSHA Standard, Hepatitis B vaccine will be offered to those employees whose job assignments have been identified in Category I. This category includes job classifications in which all employees may be expected to incur occupational exposure. Category II includes job classifications in which some employees may have occupational exposure. Tasks or procedures performed by school employees during which occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials may occur are listed.
Employees who are not in Category I assignment may make a written request for Hepatitis B vaccination to the Director of Student Services, stating the specific reasons s/he feels the need for immunization. The requests will be reviewed by a committee including the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Student Services, and the Floyd County Health Officer and a determination made as to the request.
Category I
School nurses
Secondary health aides (including substitutes)
Athletic trainers
Elementary secretaries/clerks
Custodians, plant operators (including substitutes)
Category II
Principals
Assistant principals, counselors
Teachers of students with developmental disabilities and/or aggressive behaviors
Teaching aides assigned with students identified in item #3
Athletic coaches for contact sports (football, basketball, wrestling, soccer)
Special education bus drivers
Physical education teachers
Security/transportation liaisons
Tasks and Procedures
Tasks and procedures performed by School Corporation employees in which occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials may occur are listed.
First aid
Controlling student behavior such as fights
Cleaning of body fluid spills
Cleaning of equipment contaminated by blood or other potentially infectious material
Cleaning up of broken glass
Assisting students with toileting
Diapering and cleanup
Ostomy care
Nasal/oral gastric tube feeding
Urethral catheterization
Implementation Schedule and Methodology
Universal Precautions
Universal Precautions will be observed by all employees to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. All blood or other potentially infectious materials will be considered infectious regardless of the perceived status of the source individual.
Education and/or training including written instructions will be provided annually to all employees by a qualified person (school nurse or health teacher).
Appropriate education and/or training by a qualified person will be provided initially upon assignment for all new employees. Personnel Office staff will inform new employees of location, date, and time.
Written instructions are posted in areas such as health offices, custodial rooms and other areas where contamination is reasonably expected to occur.
Engineering and Work Practice Controls
Facilities are provided and work practice controls are in place to assist with employees’ compliance with Universal Precautions and to minimize exposure of employees.
Handwashing facilities are readily accessible to employees. Such facilities provide an adequate supply of running water, soap, and single use towels or hot air drying machines.
Appropriate containers are provided for disposal of contaminated sharps.
Equipment which becomes contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials is decontaminated before reuse. (i.e., art knives)
Eating, drinking, applying cosmetics or handling contact lenses is prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure.
Work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Written schedules for appropriate cleaning and decontaminating are maintained.
All bins, pails, cans, and similar receptacles intended for reuse which have a reasonable likelihood for becoming contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials are inspected and decontaminated with an EPA registered disinfectant on a regularly scheduled basis and as soon as feasible upon visible contamination.
Broken glassware shall be picked up using mechanical means such as a brush and dust pan, not picked up directly with hands. Such equipment is decontaminated after use if there is a reasonable likelihood that blood or other potentially infectious material is present in the broken glassware.
All laundry should be done by professional cleaners if possible. If professional services are not used, laundry shall be washed at least twenty-five (25) minutes in water with a temperature of one hundred sixty (160°) degrees F. or above. Bags or containers used in laundry collection must prevent leakage of fluids to the exterior. Contaminated laundry shall be bagged and transported in accordance with OSHA Standards. Employees who have contact with contaminated laundry shall use appropriate personal protective equipment.
The method and materials used for cleaning and decontamination of blood or other bodily fluid spills are based on the location within the facility, type of surface to be cleaned and type of soil present. Bus drivers, custodians, and plant operators are provided materials and given specific instruction and training regarding clean up of body fluid spills.
While rendering general first aid assistance to students or adults, universal precautions and appropriate personal protective equipment will be used. Specific instructions are contained in the Medical Standing Orders of the School Corporation and are taught in annual first aid classes for selected staff.
Any activity or procedure involving mouth pipetting/suctioning of blood or other potentially infectious materials is prohibited.
Should resuscitation, such as at a swimming pool become necessary, a one-way valve mask will be used.
Regulated Waste
Special disposal as regulated waste is required when blood or other potentially infectious material is liquid, semi- liquid, caked with dried blood, is not absorbed in materials, and is capable of releasing the substance if compressed.
Potentially infectious materials include semen, vaginal secretions, all other internal body fluids, saliva containing blood and any unfixed tissue or organ from a human (i.e., teeth, amputated body parts).
Disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products are not considered regulated waste and may be disposed of following usual methods.
Materials such as bandages, plastic gloves, gauze pads, or other items used in routine first aid are non-regulated waste and may be disposed of in the usual manner.
Only those materials defined as regulated waste must be placed in red plastic bags to distinguish them for disposal methods following the OSHA Standard.
Contaminated sharps such as needles and syringes used for student medication or lancets used in blood sugar determination are placed in an OSHA approved, puncture proof container. When the container is full it must be disposed of following the OSHA Standard. While in use, a contaminated sharps container must be located in a health office or other supervised area.
Should a disaster occur in a school whereby first aid and medical services generate soiled bandages or other supplies meeting the definition of regulated waste, red plastic bags for disposal are available in school offices and other designated areas.
Personal Protective Equipment
A variety of personal protective equipment is provided to employees. The type of personal protective equipment used will depend upon the task and degree of exposure anticipated.
Single use gloves are readily accessible and will be worn by those employees reasonably anticipated to have contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Single use gowns, masks, and shoe covers are readily accessible to employees responsible for cleaning an extensive spill of blood or other potentially infectious materials.
All single use equipment is disposed of in accordance with OSHA Standards.
Utility gloves are provided and will routinely be worn by employees while performing regularly scheduled housekeeping tasks in restrooms, diaper changing areas, or other areas where non-visible contamination may exist. Such multiple use gloves must be removed, washed, and dried and handwashing take place before the employee moves to tasks in another area. Such gloves must be discarded and replaced if they become torn, are punctured, or when their ability to function as a barrier is otherwise compromised.
One-way valve masks are provided to swimming instructors and CPR instructors as they are reasonably anticipated to use such ventilation devices during emergency situations.
Compliance
The principal/supervisor or designee is responsible for maintenance of an adequate supply of personal protective equipment in addition to materials and supplies appropriate for routine housekeeping and for specific cleaning of visibly contaminated areas following a body fluid spill.
The principal/supervisor or designee is responsible for ensuring compliance with the OSHA Standards outlined in this Exposure Control Plan regarding use of personal protective equipment and the practice of universal precautions.
The principal/supervisor or designee is responsible for appropriate documentation and follow-up of body fluid spills, or exposure incidents in compliance with the OSHA Standards outlined in this Exposure Control Plan. Post exposure and follow-up of an exposure incident will include a review of existing engineering and work practice controls and recommendations for any needed changes. The follow-up will include a determination of whether personal protective equipment was used and whether work practice controls were followed.
The Board of School Trustees has adopted policy relating to Universal Precautions and sanctions for failure to practice such precautions.
Exposure Incidents and Reporting and Follow-up Procedure
An exposure incident is a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin or parenteral contact (piercing of mucous membrane or skin barrier through such events as needle sticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions), with blood or other potentially infectious material that results from the performance of an employee’s duties.
All employees are given information about what constitutes an exposure incident and the procedure to be followed when such an incident occurs.
Employees are responsible for the immediate reporting of any exposure incident to the building principal and/or supervisor.
The principal or designee is responsible for completion of Section I of an Exposure Incident Report form and notification of the school nurse before the end of that workday or shift.
The school nurse is responsible for contacting the employee, collecting additional information regarding circumstance of the exposure, and counseling of the employee regarding the potential for infection from the incident. The nurse will complete Section II of the Exposure Incident Report form, and the employee will be referred to a physician for evaluation within twenty-four (24) hours of the exposure incident. (Occupational Health Dept., FMH, located at Suite 110, Northgate Medical Center, I-265 and Grant Line Road).
Physician referral will follow the same procedure as does Worker’s Compensation, that is referral to a specific health care provider with which the School Corporation has a written agreement to provide such services as specified in this Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan. The healthcare provider is the Occupational Health Department of Floyd Memorial Hospital. (I-265 and Grant Line Road)
The employee will be offered vaccine or other post exposure prophylaxis in accordance with the current recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service.
The physician will complete Section III of the Exposure Incident Report form and return it to the Director of Student Services within five (5) working days, furnishing a written opinion on the need for and the employee’s ability to receive Hepatitis B vaccine.
The employee will be furnished a copy of the physician’s report within fifteen (15) working days after the evaluation is completed.
All physicians’ statements and diagnoses remain a part of an employee’s confidential medical records, which are maintained in the Insurance Office.
If requested by the employee, an attempt will be made by the school nurse to obtain permission and cooperation of the source individual and/or his/her parent or guardian for appropriate blood tests.
Employee Information and Training
All employees whose job classifications include tasks or procedures which could be reasonably anticipated to include contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials are categorized as having occupational exposure.
All employees with occupational exposure will participate in a training program during the employee’s working hours.
Training will be provided to new employees within ten (10) days of initial assignment to a job assignment which is Category I or Category II.
Training will include making accessible a copy of the regulating text of the Standard and explanation of its contents; general discussion on bloodborne diseases and their transmission; exposure control plan; work practice controls; personal protective equipment; Hepatitis B vaccine; response to emergencies involving blood; how to handle exposure incidents; and the post exposure evaluation and follow-up program.
The trainers will be knowledgeable in the subject matter and how it relates to the school setting, and there will be opportunity for questions and answers.
Additional training will be provided when modification of tasks or procedures affect the employee’s occupational exposure.
Additional training for all employees will be provided by way of written information on an annual basis.
Immunization of Identified Employees
The Hepatitis B vaccine series will be made available to all employees who have occupational exposure.
Based on post exposure evaluation and follow-up, vaccine may be offered to employees who have had an exposure incident.
The vaccine is made available at no cost to the employee and at a reasonable time and place.
Hepatitis B vaccine is provided at the Floyd County Health Department as a part of the implementation of the Exposure Control Plan and after employees with occupational exposure has received the required training. Participation in a pre-screening program is not a prerequisite to receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine.
Vaccine will be administered by injection on three separate dates. The first two (2) doses are given one (1) month and the third dose five (5) months after the second.
Identified employees may decline the vaccine and those who do so must sign a declination form.
Identified employees who initially decline Hepatitis B vaccine may later decide to accept the vaccine, and it will be made available at that time.
New employees identified as having occupational exposure will be offered vaccine within ten (10) working days of initial assignment.
If the U.S. Public Health Service recommends routine booster dose(s) of Hepatitis B at a future date, such booster dose(s) will be made available.
Following the initial training program, a letter will be given to employees identified as having occupational exposure. The letter will contain information about Hepatitis B vaccine, a clinic schedule and an Immunization Intent/Declination Form (appendix E). Completed forms will be returned to the Director of Human Resources for scheduling of vaccinations, recording, and filing.
Employees choosing to receive the vaccine are responsible for keeping scheduled clinic appointments at the dates and times specified.
Health department personnel are responsible for obtaining informed consent before giving the vaccine and for providing lists of persons receiving the vaccine to the School Corporation.
Record Keeping
Medical Records
The School Corporation Personnel Office will establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee with occupational exposure.
The record will include the employee’s name and social security number and his/her Hepatitis B vaccination status.
Medical records relative to the employee’s ability to receive vaccination, results of any examinations, medical testing and follow-up procedures required as a result of an exposure incident will be maintained in confidential files in the Insurance Office. Confidentiality of all employee medical records is maintained.
These employee records are maintained for the duration of employment plus thirty (30) years.
Training Records
Training records will be maintained in the Personnel Office and shall include the dates of the training sessions, the contents or a summary of the session, the names and qualifications of persons conducting the training, and the names and job titles of all persons attending the sessions.
Training records will be maintained for three (3) years from the date the training occurred.
Records are made available only as specified in the OSHA Standard.
Compliance Records
The "Checklist for Clean-Up of Bodily Fluid Spills" is completed by the person doing the clean-up, after clean-up of all bodily fluid spills, then signed by the principal/administrator and filed in the principal’s/administrator’s office.
All of these records are kept for two (2) school years including the one during which the clean-up occurs.
After the second school year, those records documenting an incident during which an exposure incident did not take place may be discarded.
Those records documenting an incident during which an exposure incident did occur are kept indefinitely.
Checklist for Response to a Possible Exposure Incident
After incident has occurred, employee reports to school office.
Principal/Secretary completes Section I of Exposure Incident Report Form. (Additional forms are obtained from Student Services)
Call Student Services, state that an exposure incident has occurred, and request that a school nurse come to the site. The nurse will talk to the employee and complete Section II of the form.
The nurse gives the completed form to the employee with instructions to report immediately to the Occupational Medicine Physicians, located at Suite 110, Northgate Medical Center, I-265 and Grant Line Road.
After completion of steps 1-4, decisions about appropriate treatment, if any, are made by the physician in the Occupational Health Department. Employee is given instructions as needed for follow-up.
The physician will complete Section III of the Exposure Incident Report Form and return the completed form to the Director of Student Support Services.
The original form is filed as confidential medical records in the insurance office. Copies are not kept either at the building or at Student Services.
Any questions are directed to the Coordinator of School Health Services and the Director of Human Resources.
GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION OF BLOODBORNE PATHOGEN DISEASE TRANSMISSION DURING STUDENT ACTIVITIES
The "Guidelines for the Prevention of Bloodborne Infectious Diseases During Student Activities" were developed for use by school corporations as they develop a policy on the use of universal precautions during student athletic, extracurricular, or recreational activities. The purpose of such a policy is to minimize the possibility of transmission of bloodborne pathogens during school athletic events or extracurricular activities.
The guidelines primarily address prevention of the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, such as the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). However, school corporations may also want to address common sense precautions against the spread of less serious communicable diseases in a policy.
The guidelines were written with not only obvious contact sports such as football and wrestling in mind, but should be applicable to any activity in which blood may be present due to a student injury.
Guidelines
School corporations should understand that this document contains guidelines for their use in developing local policies. The Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana High School Athletic Association strongly recommend that each school corporation develop their own policy regarding the prevention of bloodborne pathogen transmission during school activities.
During school activities in which an injury occurs that results in bleeding, responsible individuals should follow the appropriate guidelines as set forth by their school corporation’s bloodborne pathogen exposure control plan.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne pathogens, such as HBV, Hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV, are serious infectious agents which are present in blood as well as other body fluids such as semen and vaginal secretions of infected individuals. While there are a number of diseases caused by bloodborne pathogens, HBV, HCV, and HIV infection are the most common.
The hepatitis B and C viruses cause dangerous inflammation of the liver. Some infected individuals become carriers and suffer long-term consequences. Long term carriage can eventually cause cirrhosis of the liver and liver carcinoma. HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS weakens the immune system, making a person susceptible to infections their immune systems normally would fight off. There is no known cure for AIDS.
The precise risk of HIV transmission during exposure to open wounds or mucous membranes such as eyes, ears, nose and mouth to contaminated blood is not known. However, scientific evidence suggests it is extremely low but not zero.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not give exact statistical information on transmission of HBV through open wound or mucous membrane exposure, CDC does state that these exposures account for a small proportion of reported cases of hepatitis B infection in the United States.
Therefore students/athletes, coaches, and officials must understand that while it is theoretically possible for HIV and HBV to be transmitted by blood from one individual through the open wound or mucous membrane of another individual, the probability of this occurring during school activities is low. The chance of transmission of HIV and HBV in this manner, however, is not zero. Precautions should be taken to ensure that no transmission can occur.
Preventing Transmission of Bloodborne Pathogens During School Athletic Events and Extracurricular Activities
School corporations should assure that a person is designated at each athletic, extracurricular, or recreational activity event to assist injured students. Athletic trainers, coaches, or any employee whose job duties include assisting injured students/athletes should use disposable examination gloves to prevent exposure to blood when treating athletes who are bleeding, be offered pre-exposure prophylaxis with hepatitis B vaccine, and be covered under the school’s OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan.
If followed, the measures listed below ensure that the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens during school activities remains extremely low.
For students/athletes participating in activities that involve person-to-person contact, skin wounds (such as scratches, abrasions and lacerations) and potentially infectious skin lesions (such as weeping sores) should be securely covered with bandages or simple wraps to prevent leakage of blood or serous fluid during the activity.
The injured student/athlete should perform his/her own wound care whenever possible. Barriers, such as latex or other protective gloves, should be used by other persons providing care.
Students/Athletes should be instructed not to handle other people’s blood. Students should not be asked to assist in controlling a bleeding injury; clean blood contaminated environmental surfaces (such as wrestling mats), or handle contaminated laundry.
Lacerations or wounds with substantial bleeding (more than superficial scratches or small lacerations), should be treated promptly. Blood on the skin of the injured student/athlete and on that of other participants should be washed off thoroughly with soap and water or with pre-moistened towelettes. The injured student/athlete should be permitted to return to the activity only after the wound has been securely covered or wrapped.
If clothing or equipment or wound bandage appears to be wet with blood or if blood has penetrated both sides of a uniform fabric, the equipment or clothing should be changed and blood on the skin should be washed (by the injured student/athlete) as soon as possible. Small amounts of dried blood on clothing or equipment do not constitute a risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens, therefore a change of uniform is not necessary.
Skin contaminated with blood should be washed with soap and water. Although liquid chemical disinfectants effective against specific bloodborne pathogens and other micro-organisms are widely available, such disinfectants are not intended for direct contact with the skin. Direct physical contact with such agents may result in skin irritation or other toxic reactions. Also, these disinfectants are not intended for and may not be effective for disinfecting athletic uniforms while they are being worn by athletes.
Disposable toweling should be used to clean all environmental surfaces when blood is present. The surface should then be cleaned with tuberculocidal germicide registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and used according to the label instructions or a ten percent (10%) household bleach solution (one (1) part household bleach mixed with nine (9) parts of water) mixed within twenty-four (24) hours of use. These measures are effective for most surfaces. Surfaces should be allowed to dry sufficiently to prevent possible injuries due to slipping during subsequent activities.
Note: Disposable towels are recommended for use in all clean-up. Gloves should be worn by individuals performing clean-up procedures. Towels, latex or protective gloves and other materials used in clean-up, as well as any disposable materials used to stem bleeding, should be placed in a plastic bag which can be tightly secured. Most waste will not meet the requirements for regulated waste, thus can be disposed of in the regular trash. If the following conditions are met, the waste must be disposed of in accordance with the Indiana Infectious Waste Rule:
Blood can be released from the contaminated material when squeezed.
Caked or dried blood can be released from the contaminated material when handled.
Individuals whose job duties do not include assisting injured students/athletes should be instructed not to handle blood but should contact the proper individual to assist the student/athlete.
After each activity, any equipment or uniform/clothing soiled with blood should be laundered. Items soiled with blood should remain separate from non-contaminated items. Items soiled with blood (i.e. cloth towels) should be placed in the laundry immediately after soiling occurs. Standard laundry cycles should be used according to the washer and detergent manufacturers’ recommendations. Laundry personnel should use appropriate physical barriers, such as protective gloves, to prevent contact with soiled laundry. If school personnel handle laundry, the personnel should be offered pre- exposure prophylaxis with hepatitis B vaccine and be covered under the school’s OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan.
Although bloodborne pathogens have not been shown to be transmitted by contact with saliva; towels, cups, and water bottles should not be shared. Respiratory and other illnesses can be transmitted by contact with these items.
Student/Athlete Exposure Follow-up:
Since there is potential for students to experience exposure to blood (i.e. another person’s blood on a student/athlete’s open sore), the school should have a written policy regarding the reporting of a student’s exposure to blood. The policy may include, but not be limited to, reporting and notification of the parent with a request that the parent notify the family physician of the exposure so that adequate medical follow-up can occur.