Methods to Recognize Exposure
Methods to recognize exposure
Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens is not limited to occupations or employment in one or a few industries.
It is based on whether or not employees are reasonably anticipated to have skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties.
One way to determine occupational exposure is to recognize tasks such as:
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- Drawing blood
- Processing and packaging blood and other biological specimens for shipping
- Cleansing and bandaging cuts, burns, and other open wounds
- Providing emergency treatment of traumatic wounds
- Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Cleaning up spilled blood or OPIMs
- Decontaminating surfaces and reusable equipment
- Picking up wastebaskets and bags which often contain needles
- Handling infectious waste
- Sorting or processing potentially contaminated laundry
- Collecting a blood specimen, cleaning and dressing wounds, and managing intrathecal, epidural, etc.
- Exposure to others who may bite