1.4.5.3: Training on Occupational Risk Related to Handling Body Fluids

All caregivers/teachers who are at risk of occupational exposure to blood or other blood-containing body fluids should be offered hepatitis B immunizations and should receive annual training in Standard Precautions and exposure control planning. Training should be consistent with applicable standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030, “Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens” and local occupational health requirements and should include, but not be limited to:

1. Modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens;
2. Standard Precautions;
3. Hepatitis B vaccine use according to OSHA requirements;
4. Program policies and procedures regarding exposure to blood/body fluid;
5. Reporting procedures under the exposure control plan to ensure that all first-aid incidents involving exposure are reported to the employer before the end of the work shift during which the incident occurs (1).

RATIONALE

Providing first aid in situations where blood is present is an intrinsic part of a caregiver’s/teacher’s job. Split lips, scraped knees, and other minor injuries associated with bleeding are common in child care.

Caregivers/teachers who are designated as responsible for rendering first aid or medical assistance as part of their job duties are covered by the scope of this standard.

COMMENTS

OSHA has model exposure control plan materials for use by child care facilities. Using the model exposure control plan materials, caregivers/teachers can prepare a plan to comply with the OSHA requirements. The model plan materials are available from regional offices of OSHA.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

9.4.3.3 Training Record
Appendix L: Cleaning Up Body Fluids

REFERENCES

1. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 2008. Toxic and hazardous substances: Bloodborne pathogens. http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show
   _document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10051.