Occupational Health & Infectious Disease

Policy No. RMLP25

Date: July 26, 2014

Prepared by:  Loss Prevention Team

Contents Background                                                            Purpose Policy Statement                                                         Scope  Authority and Compliance References and Resources	Responsibilities: City Risk City Bureaus Affected Employees

Background 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates facilities where employees may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens (BBP). The City of Portland is committed to promoting safe work practices to minimize exposure and the incidence of disease caused by these pathogens.

 

The City conducts operations, which may result in employee exposure to BBP. The City is committed to ensuring that employees who are at risk of exposure are:

• identified and trained
• provided with tools and resources
• provided appropriate medical attention

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Purpose 

The purpose of this policy is to establish framework for the City’s compliance with OSHA Rules governing BBP in the work place. This policy also provides BBP information to City bureaus and employees.

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Policy Statement 

• The City takes measures to comply with the regulations and statutes that protect employees from BBP. This is achieved through:
• Identifying employees at risk of exposure by analyzing the type of work they perform;
• Making Hepatitis B vaccinations available to employees with occupational exposure;
• Training affected employees in the dangers of bloodborne, preventative measures and exposure procedures;
• Instituting engineering and administrative controls to eliminate or reduce potential exposure and conduct annual inspections;
• Provide employees with adequate tools, equipment and resources to protect themselves against exposure;
• Adoption of the City’s Exposure Control Plan.

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Scope 

This policy applies to all City bureaus and employees who face a reasonably anticipated risk of exposure to BBP in the course and scope of their work.

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Authority and Compliance 

• Authority is provided under:

  • City Code 3.54.020, OMF Risk Management Division Responsibilities and Authority
  • BHR Administrative Rule 2.03 ;Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure and the Workplace
  • Division 1, General Administrative Rules, Rules for the Administration of Loss Prevention Activities by Insurers/Self-Insured Employers – General, General Requirements Chapter 437-001-1020 

• In compliance with:

  • OAR 437, Division 1 General Administrative Rules, 437-001-0760 Rules for All Workplaces, (6) Extraordinary Hazards
  • 29 CFR 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens
  • OAR 437-002-1030 Additional Oregon Rules for Bloodborne Pathogens
  • OAR 437-002-1035 Oregon Rule for Sharps Injury Log

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Responsibilities

City Risk

City Risk is responsible to:

• Develop and maintain an Exposure Control Plan in compliance with OSHA Rules;
• Provide leadership, consultative services and technical expertise to City bureaus and employees;
• Staff an Occupational Health and Infectious Disease Program Manager position whose duties include:
  • Providing BBP training to City employees,
  • Providing training resource information and assisting with inter-bureau coordination of educational programs,
  • Providing Hepatitis B vaccinations, post exposure evaluation and follow up.

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Bureaus

Bureaus are responsible to:

• Ensure that a copy of the City’s Exposure Control Plan is accessible to employees;
• Provide City Risk’s Occupational Health and Infectious Disease Program (OHIDP) Manager with information about any change in technology that will eliminate or reduce exposure to BBP;
• Manage City Risk’s Exposure Control Plan within their respective bureaus and comply with all duties owed to employees by an employer including, but not limited to:
  • Ensuring that employees have received training;
  • Provide employees with equipment, supplies and personal protective devices with which to prevent and protect against exposure to potentially infectious materials during work;
  • Ensure that employees use the appropriate equipment, supplies and personal protective devices when responding to an incident involving exposure to potentially infectious materials;
  • Providing hand washing facilities and supplies so that in the event of exposure, employees may sanitize exposed skin and tissues;
  • Direct employees through the appropriate process and procedure for Hepatitis B vaccinations in a timely manner;
  • Where feasible, maintain housekeeping sufficient that the work site is kept clean and sanitary;
  • Properly clean and sanitize areas contaminated with potentially infectious materials;
  • Properly collect and dispose of all waste that is contaminated with potentially infectious materials;
  • Investigate, assist and provide City Risk’s OHIDP Manager with any needed information;
  • Record an exposure incident on its 300 Log within seven days of the event and ensure confidentiality by recording the incident as a privacy case;
  • Where applicable, maintain a Sharps Injury Log; and,
  • Collect and maintain an accurate record for each employee with occupational exposure.

• Note: Portland Fire & Rescue, Portland Police Bureau, and the Bureau of Environmental Services have a separate stand alone Bloodborne Pathogen Policy and Program. 

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Affected Employees

Employees are responsible to:

• Identify and report potential BBP hazards.
• Wear required PPE.
• Attend BBP training as assigned.
• Apply BBP training received to the job.
• Follow established safe work practices for minimizing exposure to BBP.

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References and Resources 

Related City programs and policies include the following:

• Bloodborne Pathogen Program Guideline 

OSHA resources:

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html

 

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