Review
- There is a difference between the terms universal and standard precautions. The term universal precautions refers to treating all human blood, certain human body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials as if they are known to be infectious for HIV,HBV or other communicable pathogens. Standard precautions is a form of prevention that defines all body fluids and substances as infectious.
- There are various engineering and work practice controls that reduce or eliminate occupational exposure. Engineering controls refer to items that are manufactured to prevent or eliminate the exposure such as retractable needles; work practice controls are altered processes to methods or tasks that will reduce or eliminate exposure such as prohibiting the recapping of used needles or sharps.
- The requirements for proper hand washing include appropriate, near by hand washing facilities, the proper method and the use of antiseptic cleaners.
- The proper procedure for handling needles and other sharps include disposing in the proper, puncture-resistant, labeled container. Practices vary if the sharps are approved to be reusable.
- The proper methods to reduce surface contamination and decontamination include prohibiting certain activities in an identified area where there is blood or other OPIM, such as eating, drinking, applying lip balm, or insert contact lenses.
- There are various items that are referred to as PPE such as gowns, masks and gloves. The appropriate PPE selection is determined by the circumstance in which it is to be applied. PPE must also be provided and available to employees that are required to administer CPR.
If you have any questions at any time regarding the information presented in this tutorial, please contact David Sullivan at 910-916-0688.
(North Carolina Department of Labor (2010). A guide to bloodborne pathogens in the workplace.)
At the completion of this module, please make sure to choose both "Email Score", and "Print Certificate". For compliance, please include your job title after your name. The completed report ("Email Score") is emailed to the OSHA Services coordinator for record keeping, and the printed certificate is for your personal records.
Move on to the next module, "Unit 3- Vaccination".
After finishing this lesson, complete the form below: