GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
Procedure Number: GSP-502
502-12Valero Terminaling and Distribution Company / Last Revised 01/10/07
GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS - GSP-502
1.0 PURPOSE 1
2.0 SCOPE 1
3.0 DEFINITIONS / ABBREVIATIONS 1
4.0 RESPONSIBILITY 3
4.1. Responsibilities of First Aid Team Members 3
4.2. Responsibilities of First Aid Team Leader 4
4.3. Responsibilities of Managers/Supervisors (or designees) 4
4.4. Responsibilities of the Designated HSE Representative 4
5.0 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS 5
6.0 EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN 5
6.1. Exposure Determination 5
6.2. Exposure Control Methods 5
6.3. Hepatitis B Vaccination 7
6.4. Post Exposure Evaluation and Follow-Up 7
7.0 TRAINING 8
8.0 RECORDKEEPING 9
8.1. Training records 9
8.2. Medical records 9
9.0 Appendix A - Forms 10
9.1. GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES EXPOSURE INCIDENT REPORT 10
9.2. APPENCIX B - HEPATITIS B VIRUS VACCINATION DECLINATION FORM 11
9.3. APPENDIX C - CONSENT FORM FOR HPATITIS B VIRUS VACINATION 12
502-12Valero Terminaling and Distribution Company / Last Revised 01/10/07
GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
1.0 PURPOSE
Valero Terminaling and Distribution Company (Valero) is committed to providing a safe and healthful work environment for its employees. In pursuit of this endeavor, the Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan (ECP) is provided to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, in accordance with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29CFR1910.1030.
2.0 SCOPE
This procedure applies all personnel, company or contractor, working in or on Valero owned or maintained pipelines or facilities. This procedure applies to any employee at Valero locations who may reasonably anticipate that he or she will have skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of his or her duties. These employees include the First Aid Team, maintenance staff and any other employees who are potentially exposed.
3.0 DEFINITIONS / ABBREVIATIONS
Blood
Human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood
Bloodborne Pathogens
Microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C
Contamination
The presence or reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials on a surface or item
Decontamination
The use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use or disposal
Exposure Control Plan
A site specific manual required by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29CFR1910.1030) to describe institutional policies to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens in a work setting
Exposure Incident
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
Hand Washing Facility
Means a facility providing an adequate supply of running potable water, soap, and single use towels or hot air drying machines
HBV
Hepatitis B virus
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Occupational Exposure
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
Parenteral
Means piercing mucous membranes or the skin barrier through such events as needle sticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions
Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)
The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, and body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard
Universal Precautions
A method of infection control in which all human blood, body fluids, and tissue are treated as if known to be infectious for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other bloodborne pathogens. The precautions apply to blood, fluids or tissue even if the individuals supplying the samples have been tested and found negative for these pathogens.
Designated Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Representative
The designated HSE representative may be a Valero employee or group or it may be a contracted entity providing specialized services to assist in environmental, health, industrial hygiene, and safety compliance activities. Subject to corporate management approval, each facility may satisfy these responsibilities through a combination of in-house and outside contracted services.
Responsible Manager
The management representative with overall responsibility for the terminal, area, site or function
Supervisor or his Designated Representative
The management representative with immediate responsibility for the terminal, area, site or function
4.0 RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibilities for implementation of this plan are listed below:
4.1. Responsibilities of First Aid Team Members
First Aid Team members with an occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens will:
· Comply with the procedures and work practices outlined in the Exposure Control Plan (ECP)
· Use universal precautions whenever they are exposed to blood or other body fluids
· Immediately report exposure incidents
· Attend annual Bloodborne Pathogen Training
4.2. Responsibilities of First Aid Team Leader
First Aid Team Leaders will:
· Ensure that anyone who becomes a member of the First Aid Team receives Bloodborne Pathogen training before becoming an active member of the team
· Coordinate efforts to clean up body fluids after treating an injury involving the release of body fluids
4.3. Responsibilities of Managers/Supervisors (or designees)
Managers and supervisors (or their designees) are responsible to:
· Ensure that any new, affected employees are provided with an opportunity to receive Hepatitis B virus(HBV) vaccines at no cost to them within 10 days of assignment to a position that presents an occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens
· Ensure that any new employees receive bloodborne pathogens training within 10 days of assignment to a position that presents an occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens
4.4. Responsibilities of the Designated HSE Representative
The designated HSE representative is responsible for:
· Developing, implementing and administering the Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Program (ECP). Review and update the plan at least annually.
· Performing an exposure determination to identify employees at the facilities that have a potential occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens
· Ensuring that all employees with occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens are provided with the opportunity to receive HBV vaccines at no cost to them
· Ensuring that any employee who declines to accept the hepatitis B vaccine signs the declination statement found in Appendix B
· Coordinating and document initial and annual refresher training for employees
· Reviewing engineering controls and work practice controls on a regular basis to ensure their effectiveness
· Ensuring that any employee who has an exposure incident is provided with a post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
5.0 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Only trained and authorized employees are permitted to handle/clean-up blood & bodily fluids at Valero facilities. (i.e. First Aid team members)
6.0 EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN
6.1. Exposure Determination
The following is a list of departments and job classifications in which ALL employees have an occupational exposure to blood, blood products or OPIM:
· First Aid Team – All
The following is a list of employee tasks in which occupational exposure occurs to blood, blood products or OPIM:
· First Aid responder duties
· Any job where there is potential for direct contact with raw sewage (i.e., clean out of sewer lines)
· Clean up of areas where blood or other body fluids is or could be involved
6.2. Exposure Control Methods
· All employees with occupational exposure to blood, blood products or OPIM will utilize universal precautions. Under universal precautions all blood, blood products or OPIM will be treated as if known to be infectious for bloodborne pathogens. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be used when handling any blood or body fluids.
· Hand washing facilities are provided in restrooms throughout the facility.
· Personal protective equipment will be used whenever there is a risk of occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. This personal protective equipment includes nitrile or vinyl gloves, pocket masks for CPR, goggles and safety glasses, and lab coats/tyvek suits.
· Gloves are required for all tasks and procedures when hand contact with blood or other body fluids is anticipated.
· Masks and eye protection are required for all tasks and procedures when eye, nose or mouth contamination with blood or other body fluids is anticipated.
· Employees will wash their hands immediately or as soon as feasible after removal of gloves or other personal protective equipment.
· Employees will wash their hands or skin with soap and water immediately or as soon as possible following contact with blood, blood products or OPIM.
· Used disposable personal protective equipment will be placed in biohazard containers specifically provided for such disposal. Biohazard containers will be properly labeled with the orange-red biohazard symbol.
· The first aid team leader and designated HSE representative are responsible for decontaminating an area that is contaminated by blood or other body fluids. The maintenance or supervisory staff is responsible for decontaminating any area where there is sewer contamination. The disinfectants of choice for this decontamination is bleach and water solution.
· Any equipment that is contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials will be decontaminated as soon as the work for which it is being used is completed. Decontamination will be accomplished before any service is performed on the equipment.
· Biohazard Spill Kits may be obtained from the designated HSE representative. Kits include medical grade gloves, congealing powder, pick-up scoop or spatula, germicidal cloth, paper towels, plastic trash bag and biohazard bag. These kits should be used in the event of a spill of blood, blood products or OPIM.
· Laundry contaminated with blood or OPIM will be handled as little as possible. Employees who handle contaminated laundry will utilize personal protective equipment to prevent contact with blood or OPIM. Trained personnel will place contaminated laundry in labeled bags at the location where it was used.
6.3. Hepatitis B Vaccination
· Valero must make available within 10 days of possible exposure the Hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series (at no charge) to all employees who have the potential for occupational exposure.
· If an employee who has the potential for occupational exposure initially declines the Hepatitis B vaccine, Valero will require them to sign a Hepatitis B Vaccine Declination form. If the employee decides to accept the Hepatitis B vaccine at a later date, Valero will make the Hepatitis B vaccine available at that time.
6.4. Post Exposure Evaluation and Follow-Up
An exposure incident is any skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or OPIMs. Any employee having an exposure incident must contact their Supervisor or the designated HSE representative immediately. See Appendix B for details on the Exposure Incident Form.
A confidential post-exposure medical evaluation and follow-up will be provided as soon as possible after an exposure incident. The following elements will be included:
· Documentation of the route(s) of exposure, and the circumstances under which the exposure incident occurred
· Identification and documentation of the source individual, unless identification is infeasible or prohibited by law
· After consent is obtained, collection and testing of the exposed employee’s blood for HIV, HBV, and HCV serological status. If the employee does not consent to HIV serological testing, but consents to baseline blood collection, a blood sample will be preserved for at least 90 days.
· Post exposure prophylaxis, when medically indicated
· Counseling
· Evaluation of reported illnesses
The health care professional’s written opinion will be provided to the employee within 15 days of the evaluation.
7.0 TRAINING
Training is provided at the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may occur, and at least annually thereafter. Additional training will be provided when changes affect an employee’s potential occupational exposure:
The training program will cover, at a minimum, the following elements:
· A copy of the standard and an explanation of its content
· A discussion of the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases
· An explanation of the modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens
· An explanation of the Valero Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan, and a method for obtaining a copy
· The recognition of tasks that may involve exposure
· An explanation of the use and limitations of methods to reduce exposure, for example engineering controls, work practices and personal protective equipment
· Information on the types, use, location, removal, handling, decontamination and disposal of PPE
· An explanation of the basis for the selection of PPE
· Information on the Hepatitis B vaccination, including efficacy, safety, method of administration, and benefits
· Information on the appropriate actions to take and persons to contact in an emergency involving blood or OPIM
· An explanation on the procedures to follow if an exposure incident occurs, including the method of reporting and medical follow-up
· Information on the evaluation and follow-up required after an employee exposure incident
· An explanation of the signs, labels, and color coding system
8.0 RECORDKEEPING
8.1. Training records
Bloodborne Pathogen Training records will be maintained by the designated HSE representative and will be kept for at least three years.
These records will be provided upon request to the employee or employee’s authorized representative within 15 working days.
8.2. Medical records
Medical records are maintained for each employee with a potential for occupational exposure in accordance with 29CFR1910.1020, “Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records.” Employee records will be kept confidential.