| When attempting to mitigate an occupational health and safety hazard, such
as bloodborne pathogens, it is helpful to categorize the various control measures into a
hierarchy based on importance. A general principal of industrial hygiene (the field of
study concerned with occupational health and safety) is that control measures which are
designed into a process and which require no actions or conscious effort on the part of
workers are the most effective. This principal was stated in the October 19, 1987 Joint
Advisory Note of the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, "Whenever
possible, engineering devices should be used as the primary method to reduce worker
exposure to harmful substances. The preferred approach "... is to use, to the fullest
extent feasible, intrinsically safe substances, procedures, or devices."
The hierarchy of control measures for bloodborne pathogens is listed below:
Engineering/Substitution Controls
Replacing or redesigning unsafe equipment or processes
to make them safer or intrinsically safe. Sharps containers and other needlestick prevention devices such as a needle
recapping device that protects hands by the use of a plastic shield which protects the
needle from inadvertently slipping and causing injury.
Administrative Controls
Programs such as training, and medical surveillance including vaccinations and
post-exposure procedures. A written Plan listing all details about the program is usually
required.
Work Practice Controls
Includes
disposing of used syringes in sharps containers, washing hands, not re-capping syringes,
and observing Universal Precautions whereby every patient's blood/body fluids are handled
as potentially infectious.
Barrier Controls
include items such as
gloves, eye protection, lab coats
Housekeeping
decontamination
of surfaces, cleaning up spills and replacing the sharps container when it is 2/3 full.
Hygiene
handwashing, keeping food
separate from contaminated areas
DCEMS Exposure Control Plan
All of the control measures listed above are required to be included in each
institution's Bloodborne Pathogens Control program. A written Bloodborne Pathogens
Exposure Control Plan is required which the names or job titles of specific individuals
who have responsibilities under the plan.
Click here to review the Dare County Emergency
Medical Services - DCEMS Exposure Control Plan.
[Quiz]
[Next]
|
