Fire/EMS Department Bloodborne Pathogen Training:A One-Year Survey (2018)

摘要

IN 1991, THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard on occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030). In accordance with OSHA's regulations under this standard, fire/ EMS (emergency medical services) have been required to provide initial hire and annual training to employees on bloodborne pathogens. The primary focus of much of this training since 1991 has been on the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV) transmission for health care workers and protecting them by using personal protective equipment (PPE). Training often has fallen short of full compliance with OSHA's requirements. Although the training section of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard references only HIV and HBV, many more diseases must be included. That has been OSHA's expectation since the regulations were issued in 1991 and described in greater detail in its Compliance Directive CPL 02-02.069. The compliance directive, updated in 2011, is used by OSHA inspectors to determine if employers are in compliance. It is important to include the directive as a reference in your compliance program because it is more comprehensive than the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard itself. For example, the standard addresses only education and training for HIV and HBV, but the Compliance Directive lists many more diseases to be covered in training. For bloodborne pathogens, staff training must include epidemiology, modes of transmission, and symptoms of bloodborne diseases including HBV, HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), Syphilis, "and others if appropriate."