Bloodborne pathogen awareness is an important safety topic for any workplace where employees could potentially encounter any bloodborne pathogen. The first step to planning proper safety procedures is ensuring you and your employees understand what bloodborne pathogens are, some of the most common types of bloodborne pathogens, and how bloodborne pathogens are transmitted. With that information in hand, you’ll be able to better assess the level of training and preparation your team needs to stay safe at work. Let’s start with a definition of bloodborne pathogens: Show What Are Bloodborne Pathogens?Bloodborne pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms that are present in human blood and other potentially infectious materials like human body fluids. Workers who have occupational exposure — meaning there is a likelihood that they may encounter or be exposed to bloodborne pathogens in the workplace — are at risk for the diseases caused by bloodborne pathogens. What Are The Types of Bloodborne Pathogens?There are many different types of bloodborne pathogens, but the three most common bloodborne pathogens referenced when discussing occupational exposure are:
Three Main Routes of Bloodborne Pathogen Transmission in the WorkplaceThere are a few different ways that bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted. In the workplace, the most common cause of transmission is when an infected person’s blood enters another person’s bloodstream through an open wound. That said, to have a comprehensive understanding of bloodborne pathogens, it’s important to understand the three main routes of bloodborne pathogen transmission:
Identifying the Right Bloodborne Pathogen Awareness Training for your WorkplaceUnderstanding what bloodborne pathogens are and how they are transmitted will help you to identify and implement the right bloodborne pathogen training for your workplace. Every workplace has different training requirements, based on the level of exposure. For example, while a small sales office may find a general awareness course sufficiently covers the level of training needed, a healthcare facility will require a more extensive bloodborne pathogen training to be implemented. The greater the opportunity for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, the more in-depth training and implementation of an exposure control plan will be required. You can assess what training your workplace needs by reviewing the OSHA guidelines for your industry. From there, you can develop a workplace safety training plan that best educates and protects your employees. For more general information about bloodborne pathogens and training standards, see OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard factsheet. And if you’re looking for a general bloodborne pathogen awareness course for your workplace eSafety’s Bloodborne Pathogen Training course may be right for you. Learn more about our LMS online, or request a free quote today! A bloodborne pathogen (BBP) is a type of bacteria or virus that is spread by contact with an infected individual’s blood or other potentially infectious body fluids. Examples of diseases caused by bloodborne pathogens include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). The most common ways a person can be exposed to a bloodborne pathogen include receiving contaminated blood or blood products, sharing needles (includes needles used during tattooing or body piercing), or having unprotected sexual intercourse. In a healthcare or residential setting, exposure may also occur as a result of unsafe injection practices or through contact with contaminated equipment such as blood glucose monitoring devices, podiatry equipment, or any other device that has not been properly cleaned and disinfected. Estimated burden of bloodborne infections in healthcare facilities in the United States:
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