Environmental Health & Safety

In Compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1030 OSHA Standard for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan

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Methods of Compliance

Housekeeping Practices

Housekeeping practices are everyone's responsibility. Developing proper work habits and disposal techniques helps to ensure a safe working environment. The Environmental Services Departments and Infection Control may be contacted for assistance.

General

The supervisor shall assure that the work site is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Cleaning is performed in a manner to prevent potentially infectious materials from becoming airborne.

Contaminated Items

All items which come in contact with potentially infectious materials shall be cleaned on a regularly scheduled basis. In most cases this will be at least daily and after each known contamination.

Contaminated Work Surfaces

All work surfaces shall be properly cleaned and disinfected after contact with blood or other potentially infectious material using a solution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) diluted 1:10 with water or any other disinfectant approved for use by Infection Prevention and Control. The bleach solution should be prepared in a container labeled with the contents and discarded and re-made monthly. Bleach solutions should be labeled with the following information - Bleach solution, dilution (1:10), date made, and the hazard description: "Corrosive". Eastman Institute for Oral Health employees are to use a solution of LpHse or bleach. LpHse solution must be prepared in a container labeled with the contents and discarded and re-made every 14 days. LpHse solutions must be labeled with the following information - LpHse solution, date made, and the hazard description: "Corrosive".. Any other disinfectant must be used according to manufacturer's recommendations with the approval of the appropriate Infection Control Committee (SMH or Eastman Institute for Oral Health).

NOTE: See the Hazard Communication Program for SMH for information on chemical labeling requirements - http://www.safety.rochester.edu/ih/hazcom/hazcommedical.html.

Reusable instruments/equipment

Reusable instruments/equipment must be rinsed of gross soil prior to being sent to the appropriate department for decontamination. Items requiring repair must be decontaminated before sending to Clinical Engineering.

Personal protective equipment are to be worn when handling and rinsing contaminated items.
If items are dripping they shall be placed in a clear plastic bag and a biohazard label placed on the outside of the bag. Under no circumstances is a red bag to be used.
If the using unit/department is responsible for decontaminating instruments, a chemical germicide approved by the appropriate Infection Control Committee (SMH or Eastman Institute for Oral Health) must be used.
Reusable instruments including sharps such as scissors and skin hooks sent to Material Processing for decontamination shall be handled in a strainer type basket to facilitate pre-soaking as necessary. If the instruments become tangled, a mechanical means such as forceps shall be used to sort through them.

Disposable instruments/supplies

Immediately after use, disposable supplies should be discarded in appropriate containers located nearby.
All regulated medical waste should be placed into red bags or sharps containers.

Laundry

Universal precautions are used for handling all soiled laundry. Soiled laundry is designated by green bags.
Linen and protective clothing soiled with body fluids are to be handled as little as possible and with minimum agitation to prevent contamination of the person handling the linen. Gloves shall be worn whenever handling soiled linens.
Contaminated laundry shall be bagged at the location where it was used. (Whenever laundry is wet and presents the potential for soak-through of or leakage from the bag, it shall be placed and transported in leak-proof bags.) The linens are to be placed in the appropriately designated area for transportation to the linen distribution area by an environmental services worker.
Linen distribution workers are required to wear heavy protective gloves and long sleeved gowns or lab coats to prevent occupational exposure during handling of linen. Care should be taken to avoid leaning the bags against clothing.
Laundry from SMH and Eastman Institute for Oral Health is shipped off-site to vendors who use Universal Precautions in the handling of all laundry. Laundry from EDC is shipped off-site to Associated Textiles, which uses Universal Precautions in handling all laundry. Caged carts for soiled linen are to be cycled through the cart washer on a weekly basis and after noticeable contamination.
The soiled cart area is to be swept and mopped daily with Hospital-approved detergent-disinfectant.

Continue to Section IV, Part E - Spills

QUESTIONS? Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail EH&S Questions.

This page last updated 8/22/2019 Disclaimer