Occupational Exposure means "reasonably anticipated 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."

Exposure Incident means "a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee's duties." Parenteral contact means "piercing mucous membranes or the skin barrier through such events as needle sticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions."

Exposure Control Plan

The District's Exposure Control Plan shall contain at least the following components:

1. A determination of which employees have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
2. A description of the schedule and method for implementing exposure control requirements, including but not be limited to:
   1. Universal precautions,

      (cf. 4119.43 - Universal Precautions)

   2. Engineering and work practice controls,
   3. Personal protective equipment,
   4. Housekeeping schedules,
   5. Hepatitis B vaccination,
   6. Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up,
   7. Informing employees about biohazards, including:
      1. Labels and signs, and
      2. Training
   8. Maintenance of training and medical records.
3. The District's procedure for evaluating circumstances surrounding exposure incidents.

The Exposure Control Plan shall be reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary to:

1. Reflect new or modified tasks and procedures affecting occupational exposure.
2. Reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure.

The District's Exposure Control Plan shall be accessible to employees in accordance with law. It also shall be made available to the Chief or Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or his/her designee, upon request for examination and copying.

Exposure Determination

The District's exposure determination shall be made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment and shall include:

1. All job classifications in which all employees have occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens.
2. Job classifications in which some employees have occupational exposure.
3. All tasks and procedures or groups of closely related tasks and procedures in which occupational exposure occurs and which are performed by employees listed in item #2 above.

Hepatitis B Vaccination

Hepatitis B vaccinations shall be provided at no cost to those employees determined to have occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. Employees who decline to accept the vaccination shall sign the hepatitis B declination statement as required by law.

(cf. E 4119.42 Hepatitis B Vaccination Declination Form)

Protective Equipment

The District shall provide appropriate personal protective equipment at no cost to the employee. Protective equipment will be chosen based on anticipated exposure to blood, or other potentially infectious materials. The District shall maintain, repair, make accessible and require employees to use and properly handle protective equipment.

Information and Training

The District shall provide a training program as specified by law to all employees in job classifications which have been determined to have some degree of occupational exposure. This program shall be offered at the time of initial assignment, annually thereafter, and whenever a change of tasks or procedures affect the employee's exposure.

Exposure Incidents: Post-evaluation and Follow-up

All exposure incidents must be reported, as soon as possible, to the Superintendent. Following a report of an exposure incident, the District shall provide the exposed employee with a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up, as required by law. The District shall maintain the confidentiality of the affected employee and the exposure source during all phases of the post-exposure evaluation.

(cf.9011  - Disclosure of Confidential/Privileged Information)

Legal Reference:

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 29 1910.1030 OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards

Records

Medical and training records shall be kept in accordance with law. Medical records shall be maintained for the duration of employment plus thirty years. Training records shall be maintained for three years from the date of training. (29 CFR 1910.1030(h)

An employee's records shall be made available to that employee and to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in accordance with law. (29 CFR 1910.1030(h)

Medical records for each employee with occupational exposure will be kept confidential as appropriate and transferred or made available in accordance with law. (29 CFR 1910.1030(h))