eLearning Log In for Bloodborne Pathogens in Healthcare Facilities
Bloodborne pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms found in human blood, as well as in human blood components and products. These microorganisms are too small to see with the naked eye but can pose significant health risks to those who come into contact with them. Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is a serious concern in the healthcare industry, and it’s important to understand how to prevent exposure and what to do if an exposure occurs.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has developed regulations for dealing with bloodborne pathogens in the workplace, and healthcare facilities must comply with these regulations to keep their workers safe. The regulations focus on preventing exposures through the use of Standard Precautions, engineering controls, and safe work practices.
One of the most critical issues for healthcare workers is reducing the risk of needlesticks and other “sharps” injuries. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that contaminated sharps cause nearly 400,000 injuries to healthcare personnel each year. When these injuries involve infectious agents such as Hepatitis or HIV, the affected workers are almost always at risk of contracting a bloodborne disease. To combat the potential for needlesticks, OSHA requires that facilities re-evaluate their Exposure Control Plan at least once a year. A major focus of these reviews is to make sure that your facility is using every means available to keep you safe.
The Exposure Control Plan is a critical component of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. The plan spells out how your facility will address the requirements of the regulation itself, including a determination of each employee’s potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens, an examination of ways to limit or eliminate these exposures, setting up a Hepatitis B vaccination program, as well as procedures to be followed whenever an accidental exposure occurs. Other parts of the plan address biohazard warning signs and labels, employee training, keeping records regarding exposure, vaccination and training, and the use of “Standard Precautions”.
Standard Precautions require that all human blood and other body substances be treated as if they are known to be infectious. This means that healthcare workers must use personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce their exposure to bloodborne pathogens. PPE includes items such as gloves, gowns, face shields, and masks. Healthcare workers must also adhere to good housekeeping practices and use engineering controls such as puncture-resistant “sharps” containers, self-ventilating laboratory hoods, and sharps with engineered injury protections, such as self-sheathing needles, to minimize their exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
OSHA also requires that healthcare facilities use biohazard warning signs and labels to identify any containers, equipment, or materials that may have been contaminated with potentially infectious materials. Biohazard labels are fluorescent orange-red, with the biohazard symbol in a contrasting color. The word “biohazard” is also marked on the lower portion of the label. Red bags or red containers can substitute for these labels.
The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard also addresses the handling of potentially infectious body substances and “Regulated Waste”. Regulated Waste includes items such as used bandages and dressings, contaminated bedding and towels, contaminated sharps, including needles, scalpel blades, and broken glass, as well as any containers that may have had infectious material in them. These items must be placed in appropriately labeled, closeable, and leak-proof containers and discarded as soon as possible.
In addition to proper labeling and handling, healthcare workers must also follow safe work practices to minimize their exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Safe work practices include minimizing splashing, spraying, or creating droplets when dealing with potentially infectious samples, no “mouth pipetting” or “suctioning”, and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection.
It is also important for healthcare workers to receive proper training on safe work practices and to understand the risks associated with exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Training should include how to properly use and dispose of PPE, as well as proper hand hygiene techniques. In addition, healthcare workers should be aware of the symptoms of bloodborne pathogen infections and know how to report any potential exposures to their supervisor.
In the event of a needlestick or other exposure to blood or body fluids, healthcare workers should immediately wash the affected area with soap and water, and report the incident to their supervisor. Depending on the circumstances, they may also need to seek medical evaluation and treatment.
Overall, preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens in healthcare settings requires a comprehensive approach that includes proper labeling and handling of specimens, safe work practices, and appropriate use of PPE. With these measures in place, healthcare workers can reduce their risk of exposure and protect themselves and their patients from these potentially life-threatening infections.
Our online interactive courses are designed to keep employees engaged and involved in the learning process. The courses are constructed in such a way that employees have to pay attention in order to keep moving through them. The use of full-motion HD video filmed in real-life workplace settings and interactive quiz questions ensures that employees are fully engaged in the learning process and retain more of the information they have learned.
One of the best features of our online courses is that it incorporates remediation training. If a trainee misses a question on a quiz while the trainee is taking the course, the trainee is presented with the course content that explains the topic over again. This means that training time is reduced and the courses are much more efficient and effective.
It’s important to note that training activity is tracked and recorded along with test scores, making it easy for managers to monitor their employees’ progress.
We offer a range of different types of online safety courses, including adaptive learning courses, micro-learning courses, full-length interactive courses, and video streaming (VOD) courses. Our libraries contain over 170 courses on important topics such as regulatory compliance, human resource topics, and general safety topics. Some of the topics covered include forklift/powered industrial truck safety, lock-out/tag-out, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, respiratory safety, confined space entry, and hearing safety.
Are you concerned about the health risks posed by bloodborne diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C? With increasing infection rates, it’s more important than ever to understand the hazards of bloodborne pathogens, the policies and practices that can prevent their transmission, and the OSHA regulations that address them.
We provide essential information and training on bloodborne pathogens in healthcare facilities. Our “Bloodborne Pathogens” training products are designed to fulfill OSHA’s training requirements and cover topics such as sources of infection, the exposure control plan, biohazard labeling, personal protective equipment, and more.
Our courses are available in multiple formats including full-length online courses, DVDs, interactive CD courses, and micro-learning courses, ensuring that employees can receive the training in the format that works best for them. The online courses are engaging, with full-motion HD video filmed in real-life workplace settings, interactive quiz questions, and remediation training to ensure that trainees fully retain the information they learn.
With over 170 courses in our library covering important topics such as regulatory compliance and human resource topics, our online courses are perfect for busy healthcare organizations looking to keep their employees up-to-date on the latest safety regulations and procedures. With training activity tracked and recorded, managers can easily monitor employee progress and ensure that their team is fully equipped to handle bloodborne pathogens in the workplace.
Don’t let your employees’ safety and well-being be compromised. Choose “Bloodborne Pathogens” training products today and ensure that your healthcare organization is fully prepared to handle these serious health risks.
