Hazardous materials policy — See Ch. 14.
Personnel policy — See Ch. 18.
Risk control policy — See Ch. 22.
Safety rules — See Ch. 24.
§ 5A-1General information.
§ 5A-2General policies and procedures.
§ 5A-3Training.
§ 5A-4Records and report.
§ 5A-5Management of potential exposure.
§ 5A-6Confidentiality.
Purpose.
The Woonsocket Housing Authority will make every effort to provide its employees a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that may cause death or serious physical harm. In providing services to the residents of the Woonsocket Housing Authority, employees may come in contact with serious diseases that can be transmitted by blood-borne pathogens. It is important that both residents and employees are protected from the transmission of such diseases.
The purpose of this policy is to comply with federal regulations and to establish a comprehensive set of rules and regulations governing the prevention of potential occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-AIDS), and other blood-borne diseases.
Coverage.
Occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens may occur in many ways, including needle sticks, cut injuries or blood spills. Although most Housing Authority employees do not think of themselves as at risk for blood-borne diseases, there are many daily tasks that potentially place them at risk. The tasks include:
Cleaning any unit where blood is present.
Giving first aid to an injured person.
Picking up needles or trash containing needles.
Working in sewage.
Transporting infectious cleanup supplies to be disposed of or laundered.
Cleaning public rest room areas.
Cleaning common areas in buildings and grounds where blood or other infectious material may be present.
Assisting in removal of a deceased resident from his or her unit.
Being exposed by another infectious individual through hostile acts.
Any work involving body fluid or blood contact.
The purpose of the policy and related training program is not to alarm the employees of The Woonsocket Housing Authority but to make them responsibly aware of the risks they may encounter and to equip them to react professionally in the face of those risks.
Administration. The Executive Director will appoint Ernie Richard of the Housing Authority as a part-time Safety Officer. The Safety Officer will administer this policy for the Woonsocket Housing Authority. The Safety Officer will be responsible for the following tasks:
Developing, implementing and maintaining an effective blood-borne disease plan subject to the provisions of federal and state law relating to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
Permanently maintaining records of all employees and incidents subject to the provisions of this program.
Coordinating, monitoring and documenting all training activities undertaken in support of this plan.
Compiling a list of all jobs in which employees have potential occupational exposure to blood-borne diseases.
Ensuring that there are complete heath and immunization records for all employees.
Investigating all incidents of exposure, notifying all employees who were exposed and ensuring that all reports are completed and any necessary follow-up medical care is made available.
Providing exposed employees with access to post-exposure follow-up and counseling.
Policy statement. All blood and other body fluids are potentially infectious and can transmit several diseases. For this reason, all Woonsocket Housing Authority employees should take particular care when there is potential exposure. These precautions have been termed "universal precautions" and stress that employees should behave as though there is the possibility of exposure at all encounters.
General guidelines. General guidelines that shall be used by everyone include the following:
Think carefully when responding to emergencies and exercise common sense when there is possible exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials that require universal precautions.
Keep all open cuts and abrasions covered with adhesive bandages that repel liquids.
If hands are contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials, wash immediately and thoroughly. Hands shall also be washed after gloves are removed even if the gloves appear to be intact. When soap and water or hand-washing facilities are not available, then use a waterless antiseptic hand cleaner according to the manufacturer's recommendation for the product.
All workers shall take precautions to prevent injuries caused by needles. To prevent needle-stick injuries, needles shall not be recapped, purposely bent or broken by hand, or removed from disposable syringes. After they are found, disposable syringes and needles shall be place in puncture-resistant containers for disposal.
The puncture-resistant container shall be located as close as practical to the use area.
The Housing Authority will provide gloves, protective glasses, and other necessary equipment of appropriate material and quality for use when needed.
Employees at risk for exposure. Employees believed to be at risk for exposure shall receive training regarding the location and proper use of personal protective equipment. They shall be trained concerning proper work practices and understand the concept of "universal precautions" as it applies to their work situation.
New employees at risk of exposure. During the orientation period, all new employees at risk of exposure will be trained on the risks of blood-borne diseases associated with their position.
Exposure reporting. All employees who are exposed to blood or body fluids during the performance of work duties must report the incident to protect themselves and the public. The employee must notify the Safety Officer and make sure that the proper report is prepared. Using the information in the report, the Safety Officer will determine the best course of action to follow.
Hepatitis B vaccinations.
The Woonsocket Housing Authority shall offer all employees at risk of exposure a hepatitis B vaccination free of charge and in amounts and at times prescribed by standard medical practices. The vaccination shall be voluntary. All employees have the option of being vaccinated by their own physician and using their personal physician for any post-exposure treatment and follow-up described in this policy. When a personal physician is used, the employee must submit to the Safety Officer records of all treatment or vaccinations received.
If an employee decides not to receive vaccination, that refusal shall be documented in writing and placed in the employee's file. The refusal can be rescinded at any time.
Reporting potential exposures. Employees shall observe the following procedures for reporting a job exposure incident that may put them at risk for HIV or HBV infections (i.e., needle sticks, blood contact on broken skin, body fluid contact with eyes or mouth, etc.):
Notify the Safety Officer and immediate supervisor of the contact incident and details thereof.
Complete the appropriate on-the-job injury reports and exposure forms.
Make arrangements for the employee to be seen by a physician as with any job-related injury. The Housing Authority will make blood testing available to all workers who have had a documented on-the-job exposure and may be concerned they have been infected with HIV. Testing should be done at a location where appropriate pretest counseling is available. Post-test counseling and referral for treatment should also be provided.
Disability benefits. Entitlement to worker's compensation benefits and any other benefits available for employees who suffer from on-the-job injuries will be determined as with any other work-related injury in accordance with applicable state law.
All medical information and records are confidential under state and federal laws. Any employees who disseminates such confidential information in regard to a victim or suspected victim of communicable disease is in violation of such laws and could be subject to serious disciplinary and/or civil action.
