A majority of workers have a common belief that only healthcare personnel are at risk from exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens; however, every worker in an organization can be exposed to it when they least expect it. In order to prevent and secure themselves from these dangerous and infectious organisms, workers must obtain accurate training and be educated about specific precautions, which is the goal of this training program. This training session has been developed to let employees receive education about the hazards linked to bloodborne pathogens and what protective measures they should adopt to prevent themselves from exposure to these hazards, for instance, by complying with universal precautions in every possible exposure event. The current program plan includes a section on bloodborne pathogen-caused diseases, the exposure control plan for an organization, universal preventative measures, how to respond to exposure events, and how to decontaminate work areas and instruments.
Bloodborne Pathegen training program applies to both the average individual and healthcare providers. Specifically, the participants of the program will be housekeepers, lab technicians, doctors, nurses, stewards, laundry workers, and other personnel who are likely to come in contact with blood or other infectious material. This course deals with a variety of extremely important topics, like identification of BBPs, determining how these microorganisms would not be transmitted from one person to another, determining groups, individuals or territories with greater risks of exposure, and proper protective gear and equipment. At the end of BBP training, every worker will be enabled to confidently manage all of these scenarios (Texas Department of Insurance, 2009). The BBP training will be received as a package that includes the universal precaution curriculum and will be taken online. These two training courses have been combined because they are linked to the same primary field, disease spread and infection control. The Universal Precautions program is also inclusive of highly crucial topics like body substance isolation, infection control course, Centre for Disease control standard precautions. There are several types of bloodborne pathogens; however, HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B are the two diseases primarily covered by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Regulations. Hence, the current training program will lay its main emphasis on these two BBPs. Issues regarding work area safety and for workers urged OSHA to introduce a new standard titled “Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030)” in order for educating workers about bloodborne diseases (Garner, 2012).
The training plan targets the senior management of the organization, such as supervisors, executives and managers who are responsible for planning, conducting and supervising training programs for their employees. Although this online training program is highly comprehensive, it is recommended that supportive site-specific coaching be undertaken for specific hazardous materials which could be accidentally experienced at various sites. This training course is intended to identify the best suited facilities, consider work practices to decrease exposures, and to effectively handle and manage bloodborne pathogen agents. Many online healthcare training organizations provide its participants additional features, like tracking of statistics, logins and training completion rating system along with printing of multiple certificates at one location, when participants have multiple accounts (ERI Safety Videos, 2008). It is mandatory for every employee having occupational exposure to actively participate in this free training course during normal business hours.
Training will be given as follows:
All employees are automatically enrolled into training program within one year of their former course. In case of alterations like changes in activities/ tasks or procedures or introduction of new tasks, additional training will be given to employees that will include only training for the new exposures produced (Department of Labour, 2003). Material suitable in information and vocabulary, as per the employees’ educational level, literacy, and language will be used.
Furthermore, the training course will include a minimum of the following material:
- A copy of the regulatory text of OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and its explanation.
- A general description of the medical specialty and symptoms associated with bloodborne diseases
- An explanation of modes through which bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted
- The organization’s exposure control plan and how the worker will access the copy of the written plan
- An explanation of the suitable techniques of identification of tasks and related activities where there might be potential exposure to blood and other infectious material.
- An explanation of the application and drawbacks of techniques that will avoid or decrease exposure, such as engineering controls, individual protective gear, and work practices
- An explanation of how personal protective gear and equipment must be selected
- Guidance on the types, right usage, position, removal, maintaining, decontamination and disposal of individual protective gear
Participants will also be educated on the hepatitis B vaccine along with information about its safety and efficacy, mode and method of administration, and why being vaccinated is beneficial. The program details about the information pertaining to the post-exposure assessment and follow-up to be offered to the worker following an event of exposure. Interactive question-and-answer sessions are encouraged with the trainer. Through this annual training course, the employers will ensure that every worker demonstrates proficiency in standard micro-biological methods and practices as well as those in the procedures and practices specific to the facility prior to being permitted to work with HBV or HIV U.S. (Department of Labour, 2012).
References:
ERI Safety Videos. (2008). 2524-LDG-E BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES. Retrieved from http://www.safetytrainingnetwork.com/TrainNet_Pdfs/2524-LDG-E.pdf
Garner, G. (2012). 7 Important Points About Bloodborne Pathogen Training. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Important-Points-About-Bloodborne-Pathogen- Training&id=7248998
Texas Department of Insurance. (2009). Bloodborne Pathogens Questions and Answers about Occupational Exposure. Retrieved from http://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/videoresource/qabbpath.pdf
U.S. Department of Labour. (2003). Model Plans and Programs for the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazard Communications Standards. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3186.html
U.S. Department of Labour. (2012). Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick prevention. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html
