HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 596 HS - Response To Incidents Involving Blood And Bodily Fluids
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PROCEDURE PR.596.HS
TITLE: INFECTION CONTROL - RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS
INVOLVING BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS
Date issued: August 1999
Last revised: 7 July 2020
Authorization: Senior Staff: 99/07/07
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To establish procedures for responding to incidents involving blood and other body fluids in
order to prevent transmission of infectious disease.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
In this procedure:
2.1 Routine Practices refers to a set of infection control strategies and standards
(including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and effective handwashing)
designed to protect workers from exposure to potential sources o f infectious diseases.
Routine Practices are based on the premise that all blood, body fluids , secretions,
excretions, mucous membranes, non-intact skin or soiled items are potentially
infectious.
2.2 Supervisor means a person who has charge of a workplace or authority over a worker.
2.3 Worker means any of the following:
a) a person who performs work or supplies services for monetary compensation;
b) a secondary school student who performs work or supplies services for no
monetary compensation under a work experience program authorized by the
school board that operates the school in which the student is enrolle d;
c) a person who performs work or supplies services for no monetary compensation
under a program approved by a college of applied arts and technology, university
or other post-secondary institution;
d) a person who receives training from an employer, but who, under
the Employment Standards Act, 2000, is not an employee for the purposes of
that Act because the conditions set out in subsection 1 (2) of that Act have been
met; and
e) such other persons as may be prescribed by the Ministry of Labour (MOL) who
perform work or supply services to an employer for no monetary compensation.
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3.0 RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1 Principals/Supervisors must:
a) ensure that any worker likely to be exposed to blood or body fluids:
(i) has the protective equipment necessary to prevent exposure to infectious
materials; and
(ii) has received training/information on Routine Practices and other
procedures for cleaning up blood or body fluid spills as necessary.
3.2 Workers must:
a) use or wear the protective equipment prescribed by the O ttawa-Carleton District
School Board (OCDSB) or by legislation; and
b) participate in any training required.
4.0 PROCEDURES
4.1 All blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, non -intact skin or
soiled items must be considered infectious, and Routine Practices must be employed
when workers are likely to be exposed to contact , as follows:
a) Hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and water or disinfected with an
alcohol-based hand rub as often as necessary while handling potentially
infectious materials, but as a minimum must be washed with soap and water
before and immediately after handling potentially infectious materials, even if
gloves are worn;
b) Disposable, nitrile gloves must be worn when handling potentially infectious
materials;
c) Disposable gloves must be discarded immediately after use in the regular waste
stream for disposal ; and
d) Face protection must be used while exposed to any blood or body fluids or while
handling potentially infectious material where there is a risk of a worker’s eyes,
nose or mouth coming into contact with sprays or aerosolized body fluids.
4.2 Workers who clean up blood, vomit, feces, or other body fluids must:
a) employ Routine Practices and follow these safe work procedures:
b) wear disposable nitrile gloves during cleaning and disinfecting procedures;
c) wear face protection where there is a risk of a worker’s eyes, note or mouth may
come into contact with sprays or splash;
d) secure the area to prevent others from exposure;
e) remove and dispose of all visible organic material (blood, feces, vomit, etc.)
before applying disinfectant;
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f) place all towels, rags, etc., used to clean the spill in an impermeable plastic bag,
which is sealed after clean-up is completed and placed in the regular waste
stream;
g) disinfect the area using an OCDSB approved disinfe ctant that is effective against
bacteria and viruses and has been specifically identified for this purpose .
Carpeted or upholstered surfaces may require alternative disinfection methods ;
and
h) use materials specifically identified for this purpose, such as single use cloths or
disposable paper towels. A re-usable mop should never be used for cleaning up
blood and body fluid spills.
Toileting and Diapering Procedure
4.3 Any workers who are required to engage in toileting or diapering activities are required
to employ Routine Practices and follow these safe work procedures:
a) wear disposable nitrile gloves during toileting procedures;
b) wear a face shield where there is a risk of potentially infectious mate rial
splashing in the face;
c) if changing a student while the student is standing, have the student stand over a
clean changing surface (disposable pad);
d) if changing a student while the student is lying down, place the student on a
clean changing surface (disposable pad);
e) remove the soiled diaper and fold the soiled surface inward;
f) place on disposable pad, or directly into garbage bags;
g) place the disposable pad, diaper, gloves and other disposable equipment into an
impermeable plastic bag and dispose of the bag in the regular waste stream;
h) wash hands using soap and water; and
i) disinfect the changing area, if necessary following t he steps outlined in section
4.8.
Toys and Equipment
4.4 Any equipment or toys that can be potentially contaminated with body fluids (e.g. drool
from mouthing toys), must be cleaned and disinfected with products approved for this
purpose on a regular basis. See Appendix A for procedures recommended by Ottawa
Public Health for cleaning toys.
4.5 Disinfection of equipment or toys should be done on a regular basis with products
approved for this use, and must be done where there is any reason to suspect
contamination before being used by anyone else . Equipment may include: mats, bean
bag chairs, keyboards, computer mouse, headsets, musical instruments, etc.
4.6 Mats used in high needs rooms should be cleaned and disinfected with products
approved for this purpose on a regular basis. Cleaning and disinfection must occur
where there is any reason to suspect contamination with body fluids prior to being used
by anyone else.
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Reporting Potential Exposures
4.7 A worker who feels that they may have been exposed to an infectious material (blood or
body fluid), which may cause illness or disease in the future should report the incident to
the principal or supervisor who will record the report using the OCDSB online accident
reporting system.
Training
4.8 Any worker or supervisor who is likely to come into contact with blood or other body
fluids must receive training, which includes information about:
a) hazards associated with blood and body fluids;
b) Routine Practices (includes effective handwashing);
c) using and removing masks, face shields and disposable nitrile gloves, where the
employee is required to wear them in fulfilling any of their assigned
responsibilities; and
d) this Procedure.
4.9 Any worker or supervisor who may be required to clean blood or other body fluids must
receive training, which includes detailed information about:
e) hazards associated with blood and body fluids;
f) Routine Practices (includes effective handwashing);
g) using and removing masks, face shields and disposable nitrile gloves where the
worker is required to wear them in fulfilling any of their assigned responsibilities ;
h) using and maintaining face protection;
i) procedures for cleaning blood and body fluids;
j) disinfection; and
k) this Procedure.
5.0 APPENDICES
(Please right-click on the link below to open appendix in new tab)
Appendix A: Guidelines for Cleaning Toys and Equipment
6.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act
Ontario Industrial Establishments Regulation
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – Routine Practices
Public Health Ontario – Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control
of Infections
OCDSB Policy P.054.HS Workplace Safety and Insurance
OCDSB Policy P.058.HS Occupational Health and Safety