Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure

To Eliminate or minimize employee occupational exposure to blood or certain other body fluids, and comply with the OSHA Blood borne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR1910.1030 as adopted and enforced by Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations code section ILHR 32.15 (13).

Policy: Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: N/A

Issue Date:  March 29, 2013

Reviewed Date: March 23, 2026

Revised Date: March 23, 2026

 

Purpose:

To Eliminate or minimize employee occupational exposure to blood or certain other body fluids, and comply with the OSHA Blood borne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR1910.1030 as adopted and enforced by Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations code section ILHR 32.15 (13).

Policy:

It is the policy of the University Police to ensure that the policies and procedures set forth by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and OSHA are followed and reported correctly.

Definitions:

1. Contaminated- the presence, or reasonably anticipated presence, of blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) on an item or surface

2. Contaminated Laundry- laundry soiled with blood or OPIM, or that may contain sharps.

3. Designated First Aid Provider- individuals who are required to provide first aid in emergency situations as a condition of their employment.  These individuals may perform this function as a primary duty, or as a duty incidental to other duties (Day care provider, or Resident Assistants)

4. Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM)- certain human body fluids: Semen, Vaginal secretions, Cerebrospinal fluid (fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord), Synovial fluid (fluid surrounding bone joints), Pleural fluid, Pericardial fluid, Peritoneal fluid, Amniotic fluid, Saliva in dental procedures, any bodily fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, All body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids.  It also includes any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human, or non-human primate (living or dead), HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions, and blood, organs or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV, any pathogenic microorganism, and human cell lines.

5. Universal Precautions- this is an approach to infection control whereby all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens.

6. Exposure Determination- OSHA requires employers to perform an exposure determination concerning which employees may incur occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). The exposure determination is made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment (i.e. employees are considered to be exposed even if they wear personal protective equipment for purposes of identifying "exposed" job titles). This exposure determination is required to list all job classifications in which all employees may be expected to incur such occupational exposure, regardless of frequency.  University Police Department (sworn) Staff Sworn Staff Titles shall include all police titles having arrest and/or emergency response authority including LTE personnel vested with peace officer authority.

Procedures:

1. Medical Services
   1. The Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan requires the provision of two sets of medical services:
      1. Offer the Hepatitis B vaccination to employees covered by the program,
      2. Post exposure evaluation and follow-up, including blood tests, medical treatment and counseling.
   2. Hepatitis B Vaccination
      1. The vaccination may be provided to any employee, who requests it, and will be provided at the University’s expense.
2. Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up Procedure
   1. An employee who experiences an exposure incident must cease work and immediately report the exposure to the supervisor, even if the employee does not feel the exposure poses a risk for contracting a bloodborne disease.
   2. The supervisor and the exposed employee will complete the Employee Occupational Injury and Illness Report, which is found in the University Police Supply room in binders labeled, “Worker’s Compensation”, which is provided by and returned to Human Resources.
   3. The supervisor is responsible to ensure that the incident is reported to the Risk & Safety Management Office, and must make every effort to see that the employee immediately seeks Post Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up.
3. Medical Records
   1. All medical records concerning the Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan will be maintained by the Human Resource Office.  Medical records will not be maintained by the University Police Department.
4. Contaminated Employee Garments
   1. An employee should cease work and remove the contaminated garments as soon as practical.  It is the employee’ responsibility to have a change of clothing available in the event that a contamination occurs.
   2. Contaminated laundry shall not leave the work site.  The employee will remove the garments, and place them in red biohazard bags.  If sharps are present, the bag will be labeled to indicate that.  The University will have the garments cleaned by a professional laundry service.  If the case warrants, the garments maybe treated as infectious waste depending on the amount of saturation.  Under no conditions, should an employee take contaminated laundry home for laundering.
5. Contaminated Surfaces
   1. In the event that there has been a blood or OPIM spill, the appropriate janitorial personnel will be contacted for cleanup.  Until the contaminated area is cleaned, if possible, it will be locked off to prevent further contamination.
   2. In the event that the contaminated surface is property owned within the department, the Police Officer in charge of the situation will be responsible for decontaminating the surface as soon as possible.