Environmental Health & Safety Manual (EHS)

Effective: 3/6/1992

Revised: 5/10/2010

EHS 101: Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention

Purpose

To eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other bloodborne pathogens and to prevent needlestick and other sharps injuries

Sources

29 Code of Federal Regulations § 1910.1030

Arizona State University Bloodborne Pathogens Compliance Guidelines

Arizona State University Exposure Control Plan for Pathogens; Needlesticks and Other Sharps Injuries

Applicability

Employees who may be reasonably anticipated to come in contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials during the performance of their duties

Policy

ASU maintains a bloodborne pathogens compliance program for employees who may be reasonably anticipated to come in contact with human blood or other potentially infectious materials during the performance of their duties. The program includes the use of engineering and work practice controls, personal protective clothing and equipment, informational training, hepatitis B vaccination, post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, sign and label programs, and other protection provisions.

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Responsibilities of Environmental Health & Safety

Environmental Health & Safety is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the university’s bloodborne pathogens compliance program and written exposure control plan. The program is designed to promote and achieve regulatory compliance and provide a means for employees to be better informed and protected.

Environmental Health & Safety provides technical assistance to departments and units in their efforts to address the requirements established in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard.

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Responsibilities of Departments and Units

Departments and units are responsible for identifying employees who may be reasonably anticipated to come in contact with human blood, other potentially infectious materials, and bloodborne pathogens during the performance of their duties, and for ensuring that these employees are provided the protections and training required by the OSHA standard.

Departments and units using needles or other sharps must implement appropriate safe medical devices that are commercially available and effective, when feasible. Sharps injury logs must also be maintained in compliance with the Arizona State University Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens; Needlesticks and Other Sharps Injuries.

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Exposure Control Plan

The core element of the bloodborne pathogens compliance program is the Arizona State University Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens; Needlesticks and Other Sharps Injuries. This plan, along with the Arizona State University Bloodborne Pathogens Compliance Guidelines, is a guidance document found on the Environmental Health & Safety Web site.The plan contains the following elements:

1. exposure determination process
2. evaluation schedules and establishment of methods of compliance for the following:
   1. universal precautions, engineering and work practice controls, personal protective equipment, and housekeeping
   2. hepatitis B vaccination and postexposure evaluation and follow-up
   3. human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) research laboratory evaluations
   4. communication of hazards to employees and required training

      and

   5. record keeping, including sharps injury log

   and

3. procedures for evaluation of circumstances surrounding exposure.

The plan and required training provide the foundation for the university’s bloodborne pathogens compliance program. Initial and annual update training schedules, copies of the plan, and compliance guidance documents can be obtained from Environmental Health & Safety by calling 480/965–1823 or sending e-mail (ehs@asu.edu).

Clean-up

The clean-up of a spill of human blood, other potentially infectious materials, or bloodborne pathogens, and the affected area must be performed by properly trained personnel. These personnel may be ASU employees or contractors. All costs associated with the clean-up/decontamination will be passed on to the befitting or responsible ASU unit. A list of approved contractors may be found on the EH&S Web site.

Exception

Voluntary “good Samaritan” acts, such as assisting a coworker who has a nosebleed, cut, or other injury are not covered by this policy or by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.

Cross-References

For more information, see:

1. EHS 104, “Laboratory Use of Hazardous Chemicals”
2. EHS 105, “Personal Protective Equipment”

   and

3. EHS 108, “Environmental Health and Safety Training.”

For additional information on HIV and AIDS, see the Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual— SPP 313, “Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.”

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