By Terry Baxter, Law Enforcement and Safety Specialist
Within the workplace, bloodborne pathogens can be spread easily through a number of different ways. They can be transferred through blood or other infectious fluids, touching eyes, nose or mouth. They can be spread through cuts, abrasions, rashes or burns. Exposures also can occur through semen, vaginal secretions and other body tissues or fluids that contain visible blood. You can be contaminated through touching contaminated areas, being punctured or wounding the skin allowing access to your bloodstream.
It is important to note, that anyone who experiences an exposure may not always show any signs or symptoms, so it is essential that all persons you deal with in the workplace environment be considered infectious. Law enforcement and correction officers work in an atmosphere where the potential of a person they are dealing with has
an infectious disease. The three major bloodborne pathogens of concern are:
- Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
- Human Immunodeficient Virus (HIV)
HBV- is a definite risk. HBV can survive on environmental surfaces in dried blood for at least one (1) week. There is a vaccine for HBV.
HCV- is efficiently transmitted through exposures. HCV is the leading indicator for liver transplants and there is no vaccine for HCV.
HIV- is a virus that gradually breaks down the immune system leaving the body unable to defend itself against other viruses. It cannot live outside the body very long.
County exposure policies and training can greatly decrease chances of employees being exposed. Procedures and training should identify methods for handling suspected contaminations as well as cleaning up affected areas.
Policy should dictate to treat all body fluids as though they are infectious and ensure staff are properly provided and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Disposable gloves are the most common type of PPE, but equipment that is appropriate should be utilized depending on the exposure at hand.
Handwashing is the single most important precaution for preventing the spread of infections, staff should be trained to wash their hands before and after every handling contact. If you have handwashing solution this should only be an temporary measure and once water and soap is available to wash hands and exposed areas as soon as possible.
Should an exposure occur, immediately wash the area with soap and water, or flush the eyes with large amounts of water, report exposure to your supervisor and include a report of documentation outlining how the event occurred and the precautions, if any were taken.
Your county needs to have a policy addressing bloodborne pathogens, but the policy itself is not enough, training personnel is essential for limiting the risk of unwanted exposures. Just because you come in contact with an infectious disease doesn’t mean infection will occur, but that being said this, should not deter someone from using the necessary precautions outlined in agency policy.
For more information or to request training involving law enforcement and/or corrections operations., contact Terry at: terry@nirma.info, or (402) 686-9332.
