Bloodborne Pathogens Awareness for New Employees

This document is intended for trade employees and housekeeping services employees that may encounter blood or other potentially infected material such as semen, vaginal secretions, feces or vomit contaminated with visible blood.

This handout is available for newly hired trade and housekeeping services employees who have not yet attended the University of Maryland, Bloodborne Pathogens training. It is intended to alert them that they may not clean up blood spills or other potentially infectious material under any circumstances until they attend a bloodborne pathogens training class. This handout is not to be used instead of attendance at a bloodborne pathogens class.

Until you attend a Bloodborne Pathogens Training class, do not touch or clean-up
     human blood,
     used condoms,
     needles and syringes, or
     any body fluid mixed with visible blood.

If you encounter any of the above, report it to your supervisor.

Bloodborne pathogens are bacteria and viruses that are transmitted by contact with human blood and other potentially infectious materials (such as semen, vaginal secretions) from an infected person.

Urine, feces, vomitus, and saliva are not known to transmit bloodborne pathogens unless they contain visible blood.

You cannot tell by looking at someone if he/she is infected; therefore these guidelines apply to ALL human blood in ALL situations.

Some examples of bloodborne pathogens are hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), both of which cause liver infection (hepatitis), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.

Routes of occupational transmission:

puncture or cut with a contaminated sharp object (such as a needle or broken glass)
splash to the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth
contact with broken skin.

Always wash your hands before eating lunch and at the end of your shift.

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