Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines for
bloodborne pathogen (BBP) exposure violations at one worksite can exceed
$160,000. To reduce fines and protect employees from the spread of BBPs, Cintas
Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS), a leader in first-aid and safety, today
identified essential steps for reducing the impact of a BBP emergency.
To improve BBP safety efforts, Cintas is offering customers free
BBP training with the purchase of any instructor-led training course.
“Although invisible to the human eye, BBPs present serious risks for
workplaces, like the spread of diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and
Hepatitis C,” said Nancy Petersen, Senior Marketing Manager Cintas.
“It’s important for employees, especially first responders such as
janitorial and industrial workers, to learn the dangers of BBPs and the
proper protocols for limiting exposure risk and handling incidents.”
The top steps for minimizing the impact of BBPs include:
1.
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Create an exposure control plan – Exposure control plans
outline occupational risks, prevention techniques like the use of
PPE and emergency procedures. To draft it, get insight from
employees across different job functions to determine hazards they
may face.
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2.
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Train employees – Any employee who may come into contact
with blood or certain bodily fluids as part of their job duties
needs to complete annual BBP training. Make sure new employees
complete this training as well. Classroom, DVD and online training
should highlight modes of BBP transmission as well as information
included in the exposure control plan. It’s also beneficial to
offer training that includes hands-on skills checks to ensure
pathogens have been isolated.
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3.
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Encourage use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – PPE
such as gloves, eye shields, gowns and masks, creates a barrier
between an individual and bloodborne pathogens. Make sure proper
PPE is available and employees wear PPE when required, yet remove
it before leaving work areas. Replace PPE when it wears out or is
unfit for use.
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4.
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Keep clean-up kits onsite – In the event of a BBP incident,
first responders will need to find a clean-up kit as soon as
possible. These kits include instructions, additional PPE, paper
towels and antiseptic wipes, biohazard bags and absorbent powders
or pads. Place these kits and signage throughout the workplace in
accessible and visible areas.
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5.
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Call for immediate medical support – In the event of a BBP
incident, report the event to a supervisor before assisting the
victim so that they can arrange for immediate medical evaluation.
Wash the wound and other contaminated areas on the skin with soap
and water, and flush eyes if necessary. Then, help the victim get
to a medical professional to be inspected more thoroughly.
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6.
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Clean affected work areas – Remove blood or other fluids
from work areas with absorbent materials, and then apply an
appropriate disinfectant. Afterwards, properly dispose of waste by
securely sealing it in biohazard bags and labeling it as hazardous.
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“Safety directors need to understand that exposure to BBPs isn’t limited
to hospital settings,” added Petersen “Although these accidents occur
without warning, with precautions in place and thorough training,
employees can feel more at ease and businesses can reduce the
opportunity for an exposure.”
For more information on the free Bloodborne Pathogens training from
Cintas, please visit www.cintas.com/BBPtraining.
About Cintas Corporation:
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly
specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout
North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate
identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning
and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid,
safety, fire protection products and services and document management
services for more than 1 million businesses. Cintas is a publicly held
company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol
CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.