It is imperative that Management photocopies these four pages and gives them to all Employee(s) during a training session. All Employee(s) shall be trained on the risk of Bloodborne pathogens and the proper handling of blood and other bodily fluids.
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms carried by human blood (and other body fluids) and cannot be seen with the naked eye. They can be spread through contact with infected blood. If they get into the bloodstream, an individual may become infected and sick.
Most personnel cannot reasonably anticipate coming into contact with blood during their day-to-day work duties. That's why it's imperative that all personnel understand the danger of exposure to Bloodborne pathogens and ways to minimize their risk.
Bloodborne pathogens may be present in blood and other materials, such as:
Bloodborne pathogens can cause infection by entering the body through: • open cuts and nicks
The most common Bloodborne pathogens are HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C:
HIV, the human immune-deficiency virus, attacks the body's immune system causing it to weaken and become vulnerable to infections that can lead to a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS.
HIV is transmitted mainly through sexual contact and sharing contaminated needles, but also may be spread by contact with infected blood and body fluids. HIV is NOT transmitted indirectly by touching or working around people who are HIV-positive.
Employee(s) can prevent getting HIV by stopping the passage of the virus from a person who has HIV to them. In many instances, the Employee(s) has control over the activities that can transmit HIV. Since HIV is most frequently transmitted by sharing needles or through sexual intercourse, Employee(s) can stop transmission by refusing to engage in these behaviors.
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