Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborned pathogens

General
SIUC ensures that all work sites are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. SIUC has implemented an appropriate written schedule for cleaning and methods of decontamination based upon the location within the facility, type of surface to be cleaned, type of soil present, and tasks or procedures being performed in the area.
All equipment and environmental and working surfaces are required to be cleaned and decontaminated after contact with the blood or other potentially infectious materials.
1. Contaminated work surfaces shall be decontaminated with full-strength chlorine bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) or any disinfectant certified to be effective for use against bloodborne pathogens (see Appendix 1) after completion of procedures; as soon as possible when surfaces are overtly contaminated with any spill of blood or other potentially infectious materials; and at the end of the work shift if the surface may have become contaminated since the last cleaning.
2. Protective coverings, such as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or imperviously backed absorbent paper used to cover equipment and environmental surfaces, shall be removed and replaced as soon as feasible when they become overtly contaminated or at the end of the work shift if they may have become contaminated during the shift.
3. All bins, pails, cans, and similar receptacles intended for reuse which have a reasonable likelihood for becoming contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be inspected and decontaminated on a regularly scheduled basis and cleaned and decontaminated as soon as possible upon visible contamination.
4. Broken glassware which may be contaminated shall not be picked up directly with the hands. Broken glass shall be cleaned up using mechanical means such as a brush and dust pan, tongs, or forceps, after thoroughly wetting the area with a decontaminating solution. Under no circumstances shall such material be swept"dry". Precautions shall also be taken to decontaminate mechanical devices such as buckets, mops, brooms, tongs, forceps and dustpans used in cleanup procedures.
5. Reusable sharps that are contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials shall not be stored or processed in a manner that requires employees to reach by hand into the containers where these sharps have been placed.
Regulated Waste
Regulated Waste is liquid or semiliquid blood or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semiliquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials that are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.
1. General Regulated Waste Containment and Disposal
  1. Regulated waste shall be placed in containers which are:
    1. Closable;
    2. Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;
    3. Properly labeled or color-coded; and
    4. Closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping
  2. If outside contamination of the regulated waste container occurs, it shall be placed in a second container. The second container shall be:
    1. Closable;
    2. Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;
    3. Properly labeled or color-coded; and
    4. Closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.
  3. Disposal of all regulated waste shall be in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States, States and Territories, and political subdivisions of States and Territories.
  4. Regulated waste shall be disposed of by the CEHS. For pick-up of regulated waste, contact MS. J. Kniesly, Assistant Director, at 453-7188.
2. Contaminated Sharps Containment and Disposal
  1. Contaminated sharps shall be discarded immediately or assoon as possible in containers that are:
    1. Closable;
    2. Puncture-resistant;
    3. Leakproof on sides and bottom; and
    4. Properly labeled or color-coded.
  2. During use, containers for contaminated sharps shall be:
    1. Easily accessible to personnel and located as close as feasible to the immediate area where sharps are used or can be reasonably anticipated to be found (e.g., laundries):
    2. Maintained upright throughout use; and
    3. Replaced when three-quarters full.
  3. When moving containers of contaminated sharps from the area of use, the containers shall be:
    1. Closed immediately prior to removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;
    2. Placed in a secondary container if leakage is possible. The second container shall be:
      1. Closable;
      2. Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage during handling, storage, transport, or shipping; and
      3. Properly labeled or color-coded.
  4. Reusable disposal containers shall not be opened, emptied, or cleaned manually or in any other manner which exposes employees to the risk of percutaneous injury.
  5. Disposal of all regulated waste shall be in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States, States and Territories, and political subdivisions of States and Territories.
  6. Regulated waste shall be disposed of by the CEHS. For pick-up of regulated waste, contact Ms. J. Kniesly, Assistant Director, at 453-7188.
Laundry
1. Contaminated laundry shall be handled as little as possible with a minimum of agitation.
  1. Contaminated laundry shall be bagged or containerized at the location where it was used and shall not be sorted or rinsed in the location of use.
  2. Contaminated laundry shall be placed and transported in bags or containers and properly labeled. When Universal Precautions are utilized in the handling of all soiled laundry, alternative labeling is sufficient if it permits all employees to recognize the containers as requiring compliance with Universal Precautions.
  3. Whenever contaminated laundry is wet and presents a reasonable likelihood of soak-through or of leakage from the bag or container, the laundry shall be placed and transported in bags or containers which prevent soak-through and/or leakage of fluids to the exterior.
2. All employees who have contact with contaminated laundry shall wear protective gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment.
3. If contaminated laundry is shipped off-site to a second facility which does not utilize Universal Precautions in the handling of all laundry, the contaminated laundry must be placed in laundry bags or containers that are properly labeled and color-coded.