2. Preventing Exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates
that employers take steps "to protect their employees from all occupational exposure to
bloodborne pathogens" by using a combination of engineering and work practice controls, personal protective
clothing and equipment, training, medical surveillance, hepatitis B vaccination, signs and labels, and other provisions.
In addition, OSHA mandates that healthcare workers must also be offered medical evaluation after an exposure.
Both employed and non-employed physicians and other healthcare providers are protected under this federal mandate.
To comply with that rule, and because Emory Healthcare is concerned for the safety of its employees and other healthcare workers, a number of measures have been implemented:
Safety devices and sharps education - Most healthcare workers experience their highest risk exposures from needles, scalpels, and other sharps. To minimize such exposures, Emory has engineering controls, including safer devices, such as safety needles and safety scalpels. Use such devices whenever possible, and if you are working in an area where such devices are not available, please bring that deficiency to the attention of the Unit Director. Exposures related to improper activation or failure to activate the safety features of a device continue to occur at Emory facilities. If you are using safety devices, make sure that you receive appropriate training on the safety features and how they are designed to be activated. A web based tutorial is available through the HealthStream Learning Center (HLC) Sharps Safety - Course 4194.
Do not bend or recap needles after using them, and dispose of them as soon as possible in an approved sharps container. Sharps should never be passed hand-to-hand from one caregiver to another. Use of a neutral field, especially in the OR, is essential to sharps safety.
Sharps Disposal -Proper disposal after use is important to prevent exposures. Sharps, even after protective features have been activated, must be disposed of properly in a designated, puncture-resistant, color-coded sharps receptacle. These should be in close proximity to the point of use and replaced when full. Please report poor placement or full canisters to the Unit Director of that area.
To comply with that rule, and because Emory Healthcare is concerned for the safety of its employees and other healthcare workers, a number of measures have been implemented:
Personal protective equipment (PPE) - If you are in a situation where you are likely to be exposed to blood or OPIMs, Emory is obligated to supply PPE to protect you. If such equipment is not readily available, you are encouraged to bring that deficiency to the attention of the Unit Director responsible for the area. The appropriate PPE should be available when you need to use it. Use PPE to protect yourself. Remember to use the appropriate PPE as part of standard precautions for every patient. For example, wear a gown and gloves to examine a draining purulent wound, even if the patient is not known to have multidrug resistant organism.
Hepatitis B vaccination - Most health care providers have completed a hepatitis B vaccination series. Occasionally, some providers have not responded to prior hepatitis B vaccination. If you have not responded to hepatitis B vaccination in the past, contact Employee Health to assess approaches for revaccination to develop protective antibodies.Safety devices and sharps education - Most healthcare workers experience their highest risk exposures from needles, scalpels, and other sharps. To minimize such exposures, Emory has engineering controls, including safer devices, such as safety needles and safety scalpels. Use such devices whenever possible, and if you are working in an area where such devices are not available, please bring that deficiency to the attention of the Unit Director. Exposures related to improper activation or failure to activate the safety features of a device continue to occur at Emory facilities. If you are using safety devices, make sure that you receive appropriate training on the safety features and how they are designed to be activated. A web based tutorial is available through the HealthStream Learning Center (HLC) Sharps Safety - Course 4194.
Do not bend or recap needles after using them, and dispose of them as soon as possible in an approved sharps container. Sharps should never be passed hand-to-hand from one caregiver to another. Use of a neutral field, especially in the OR, is essential to sharps safety.
Sharps Disposal -Proper disposal after use is important to prevent exposures. Sharps, even after protective features have been activated, must be disposed of properly in a designated, puncture-resistant, color-coded sharps receptacle. These should be in close proximity to the point of use and replaced when full. Please report poor placement or full canisters to the Unit Director of that area.