Dental Hygiene Clinic Infectious Disease Exposure Control

Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens

General Definitions
For purposes of this document, the following shall apply:

Agency means Wytheville Community College and all entities thereof.

Blood means human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.

Bloodborne Pathogens means pathogenic microorganisms that are present n human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Clinical Laboratory means a workplace where diagnostic or other screening procedures are performed on blood or other potentially contagious materials.

Contamination means presence or reasonable anticipated presence of blood or other potentially contagious materials on an item or surface. Whether or not the presence of contamination can be “reasonably anticipated” shall be determined on the possibility of contamination, not on the probability of contamination.

Contaminated Sharps means any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including, but not limited to, needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, and exposed ends of dental wires.

Decontaminated means 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 contagious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.

Employee means an individual employed by Wytheville Community College and who is identified on the Exposure Determination Matrix and List (Appendix I, Exhibits I , pages 55 through 57.).

Engineering Controls means controls (e.g., sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing needles) that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace.

Exposure Incident means a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially contagious materials that results from the performance of an employee’s duties.

Handwashing Facilities means a facility providing an adequate supply of running potable water, soap, and single use towels or hot air drying machines.

Licensed Healthcare Professional is a person whose legally permitted scope of practice allows him or her to independently perform the activities required by the Hepatitis B Vaccination and Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up.

HBV means Hepatitis B Virus.

HIV means Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Occupational Exposure means reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially contagious materials that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties.

Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM) means (1) The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any 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; (2) Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or dead) (3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs or other tissue from experimental animals infected with HIV or Hepatitis.

Parenteral means piercing mucous membranes or the skin barrier through such events as needlesticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions.

Personal Protective Equipment is specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. General work clothes protection against a hazard are not considered to be personal protective equipment.

Regulated Waste means liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially contagious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially contagious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially contagious materials that are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially contagious material.

Source Individual means any individual, living or dead, whose blood or other potentially contagious materials may be a source of occupational exposure to the employee. Examples include, but are not limited to, hospital and clinic patients; clients in institutions for the developmentally disabled; trauma victims; clients of drug and alcohol treatment facilities; residents of hospices and nursing homes; human remains and individuals that donate or sell blood or blood components.

Sterilize means the use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all microbial life including highly resistant bacterial endospores.

Standard Precautions (Universal) is an approach to infection control. According to the concept of Standard Precautions, all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if known to be contagious for HIV, Hepatitis, and other bloodborne pathogens.

Work Practice Controls means controls that reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task is performed (e.g., prohibiting recapping of needles by a two-handed technique).
Procedures
1. Exposure Determination
  1. Prepare and update, as necessary (but no less than annually by Director of Human Resources and Payroll and Facility Maintenance Supervisor), an Employee Exposure Determination Matrix. The Exposure Determination Matrix is made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment and contains:
    1. A list of all job titles in which all employees have occupational exposure;
    2. A list of job titles in which some employees have occupational exposure; and
    3. A list of all tasks, which occupational exposure occurs and that are performed by employees, listed in B above.
  2. The most recent Exposure Determination Matrices are attached (Appendix I, Exhibit I, p 55). The Exposure Determination will be utilized by the Agency to identify persons who will be trained, offered the Hepatitis B vaccine, and who must adhere to the requirements of the Exposure Control Plan.
  3. Standard Precautions
    1. Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures must be followed when handling human blood, blood products, body fluids and tissues because of the contagious agents they may contain. Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures, consistent with “Standard Precautions” (previously known as Universal Precautions), requires all specimens of human blood or other potentially contagious materials to be treated as if they are contagious.
    2. Standard Precautions will be observed to prevent contact with blood and other potentially contagious materials. A summary of the requirements is listed in Appendix I, Exhibit I, p 55. Department specific guidelines are listed in Appendix I, Exhibit I, p 55, if applicable. Supervisors and managers are responsible for assuring prior selection and use of barriers based on the task being performed and the likelihood of exposure. Supervisors and managers are required to follow the disciplinary process for employees who fail to utilize Standard Precautions correctly.
  4. Engineering and Work Practice Controls
    1. The following Engineering and Work Practice Controls will be used to eliminate or minimize exposures. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will also be used when the potential for exposure remains after Engineering and Work Practice Controls have been instituted.
      1. Handwashing
        Handwashing facilities will be readily accessible to all employees. If such facilities are not feasible, antiseptic hand cleaner and paper towels will be provided. When such agents are used, hands will be washed with soap and running water as soon as feasible.
        Employees are required to wash their hands immediately or as soon as feasible after removal of gloves or other PPE and after each potentially contagious contact.
        Employees are also required to wash hands and other skin with soap and water and/or flush mucous membranes with water immediately or as soon as possible following contact with blood or other potentially contagious materials.
      2. Needles and Sharps
        Disposal
        Contaminated needles/sharps are not to be bent, recapped, or removed.
        Contaminated sharps are to be discarded in containers that will close, are puncture resistant, leak proof, and color-coded red in accordance with this policy.
        Needle disposal containers are located in each laboratory or treatment area and in all other areas where needles are used. Such containers for sharps will remain upright throughout their use and will be replaced routinely. Designated personnel will replace them when they are ¾ full.
        Before being moved, containers of sharps will be closed. If leakage is possible, they will be placed in a larger secondary container. Secondary containers will have the same characteristics as the primary containers.
        Non-disposable
        All Engineering and Work Practice Controls that apply to disposable needles/sharps shall apply as well to nondisposable needles/sharps.
      3. Eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure. Examples of work areas include, but are not limited to, science labs, and health science labs and clinics.
        Food and drink shall not be kept in refrigerators, freezers, shelves, cabinets, or on countertops or benchtops where blood or other potentially contagious materials are present and these areas are labeled appropriately.
      4. Cosmetics, lip balm, and contact lenses
        Applying cosmetics or lip balm and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure.
    2. Specimen processing and handling
      1. All procedures involving blood or other potentially contagious materials shall be performed in such a manner as to minimize splashing, spraying, spattering, and generation of droplets of these substances.
        Mouth pipetting/suctioning of blood or other potentially contagious materials is prohibited.
        Specimens of blood or other potentially contagious materials shall be placed in a container which prevents leakage during collection, handling, processing, storage, transport, or shipping.
        The container for storage, transport, or shipping shall be labeled or color-coded according to the policies described in the Procedures of this policy (Section 7– Signs and Labels) and closed prior to being stored, transported or shipped. When a facility utilizes Standard Precautions in the handling of all specimens, the labeling/color-coding of specimens is not necessary, provided containers are recognizable as containing specimens. This exemption only applies when such specimens/containers remain within the facility. Labeling or color-coding in accordance with the Signs and Labels section of this policy is required when such specimens/containers leave the facility.
        If outside contamination of the primary container occurs, the primary container shall be placed within a second container, which prevents leakage during handling, processing, storage, transport, or shipping and is labeled or color-coded according to the requirements of this standard.
        If the specimen could puncture the primary container, the primary container shall be placed within a secondary container, which is puncture-resistant in addition to the above characteristics.
        Equipment handling
        Equipment, which may become contaminated with blood or other potentially contagious materials, shall be examined prior to servicing or shipping and shall be decontaminated as necessary, unless the employer can demonstrate that decontamination of such equipment of portions of such equipment is not feasible.
        A readily observable label in accordance with the Signs and Labels section of this policy shall be attached to the equipment stating which portions remain contaminated.
        The College shall ensure that this information is conveyed to all affected students, employees, the servicing representative, and/or the manufacturer, as appropriate, prior to handling, servicing, or shipping so that appropriate precautions will be taken.
        Evaluation of controls
        The Engineering & Work Practice Controls described above shall be evaluated on an annual basis for completeness and effectiveness.
  5. Personal Protective Equipment
    1. General
      1. Provision–OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.132 When there is an identified risk for occupational exposure, the employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, gloves, gowns, laboratory coats, face shields or masks, eye protection, mouthpieces, resuscitation bags, pocket masks, and other ventilation devices. Engineered Sharps Injury Protection devices will be considered “appropriate” only if it does not permit blood or other potentially contagious materials to pass through to or reach the employee’s work clothes, street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time which the protective equipment will be used.
      2. Use
        The employer shall ensure that the employee uses appropriate personal protective equipment unless the employer shows that the employee temporarily and briefly declined to use personal protective equipment when, under rare and extraordinary circumstances, it was the employee’s professional judgment that in the specific instance its use would have prevented the delivery of health care or public safety services or would have posed an increased hazard to the safety of the worker or co-worker. When the employee makes this judgment, the circumstances shall be investigated and documented in order to determine whether changes can be instituted to prevent such occurrences in the future.
      3. Accessibility
        The employer shall ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment in the appropriate sizes is readily accessible at the worksite or is issued to employees.
      4. Cleaning, Laundering and Disposal
        The employer shall clean, launder, and dispose of personal protective equipment required by this policy, at no cost to the employee. The employer shall repair or replace personal protective equipment as needed to maintain its effectiveness, at no cost to the employee.
      5. Removal
        All personal protective equipment shall be removed prior to leaving the work area.
    2. Gloves
      1. Requirement
        Gloves shall be worn when it can be reasonably anticipated that the individual may have hand contact with blood, other potentially contagious materials, mucous membranes, and non-intact skin; and when handling or touching contaminated items or surfaces.
        Allergies
        Hypoallergenic gloves (powderless or an alternative) shall be provided by the employer to those employees who are allergic to standard gloves.
        Disposable (single use) gloves as surgical or examination gloves, shall be replaced as soon as practical when contaminated or as soon as feasible if they are torn, punctured, or when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.
        Disposable (single use) gloves shall not be washed or decontaminated for re-use.
        Utility gloves may be decontaminated for re-use if the integrity of the glove is not compromised. However, they must be discarded if they are cracked, peeling, torn, punctured, or exhibit other signs of deterioration or when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.
    3. Masks and eye protection
      1. Masks, in combination with eye protection devices, such as goggles or glasses with solid side shields, or chin-length face shields, shall be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially contagious materials may be generated and eye, nose, or mouth contamination can be reasonably anticipated.
    4. Gowns, aprons, and other
      1. Appropriate protective clothing such as, but not limited to, gowns, aprons, lab coats, clinic jackets, or similar other garments shall be worn in occupational exposure situations. The type and characteristics will depend upon the task and degree of exposure anticipated.
    5. Housekeeping
      1. Wytheville Community College shall ensure that the worksite is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. A written cleaning schedule is established and implemented. A copy of the janitorial contract is available in the Associate Vice President’s Office.
      2. All equipment and environmental and working surfaces shall be cleaned and decontaminated after contact with blood or other potentially contagious materials. Contaminated work surfaces shall be decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant after completion of procedures; immediately or as soon as feasible when surfaces are overtly contaminated or after any spill of blood or other potentially contagious materials; and at the end of the work shift if the surface may have become contaminated since the last cleaning.
        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 appropriate for the area.
      3. All receptacles intended for reuse which have a reasonable likelihood for becoming contaminated with blood or other potentially contagious materials shall be decontaminated on a regularly scheduled basis.
      4. Broken glassware which may be contaminated shall not be picked up directly with the hands. It shall be cleaned up using mechanical means, such as a brush and dustpan, tongs, or forceps.
      5. Reusable sharps that are contaminated with blood or other potentially contagious 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.
      6. Regulated waste shall be collected on a regular schedule by a contracted entity licensed to properly dispose of waste (see section G).
  6. Contaminated sharps Discarding and Containment
    1. Contaminated sharps shall be discarded immediately or as soon as feasible in containers that are: (i) closable; (ii) puncture resistant; (iii) leakproof on sides and bottom; and (iv) labeled or color-coded in accordance with this policy.
      1. During use, containers for contaminated sharps shall be: (i) easily accessible to personnel and located as close as is feasible to the immediate area where sharps are used; (ii) maintained upright throughout use; and (iii) replaced routinely and not be allowed to overfill.
      2. When moving containers of contaminated sharps from the area of use, the containers shall be: (i) closed immediately prior to removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping; (i) placed in a secondary container if leakage is possible. The second container shall be:
        closable
        constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage during< handling, storage, transport, or shipping, and
        labeled or color-coded in accordance with this policy.
      3. Reusable containers shall not be opened, emptied, or cleaned manually or in any other manner which would expose employees to the risk of percutaneous injury.
  7. Other Regulated Waste Containment.
    1. Regulated waste shall be placed in containers which are:
      (i) closable; (ii) constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping; (iii) labeled or colorcoded in accordance with this policy; and (iv) closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.
      1. If outside contamination of the regulated waste container occurs, it shall be placed in a second container. The second container shall be: (i) closable; (ii) constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping; (iii) labeled or color-coded in accordance with this policy; and (iv) closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.
      2. Disposal of all regulated waste shall be in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia, other States and Territories, and political subdivisions of States and Territories.
  8. Laundry
    1. Contaminated laundry shall be handled as little as possible with minimal contact.
      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 labeled or color-coded in accordance with this policy. When a facility utilizes Standard Precautions in the handling of all soiled laundry, alternative labeling or color-coding is sufficient if it permits all employees to recognize the containers as requiring compliance with Standard Precautions.
      3. Whenever contaminated laundry is wet and presents a reasonable likelihood of soak-through or leakage from the bag or container, the laundry shall be placed and transported in bags or containers, which prevent soak-through or leakage of fluids to the exterior.
        Wytheville Community College shall ensure that employees who have contacts with contaminated laundry wear protective gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment.
        When Wytheville Community College ships contaminated laundry off-site to a second facility which does not utilize Standard Precautions in the handling of all laundry, the facility generating the contaminated laundry must place such laundry in bags or containers which are labeled or color-coded in accordance with this policy.
  9. Signs and Labels
    1. Labels
      1. Warning labels shall be affixed to containers of regulated waste, refrigerators and freezers containing blood or other potentially contagious material; and other containers used to store, transport or ship blood or other potentially contagious materials except as provided in items 4 and 6 below.
        These labels shall be fluorescent orange or orange-red or predominantly so, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color.
        Labels required by this section should be affixed as close as is feasible to the container by string, wire, adhesive or other method that prevents their loss or unintentional removal.
        Red bags or red containers may be substituted for labels.
        Individual containers of blood or other potentially contagious materials that are placed in a labeled container during storage transport, shipment, or disposal are exempted from the labeling requirement.
        Labels required for contaminated equipment shall be in accordance with this section of the policy and shall also state which portions of the equipment remain contaminated.
        Regulated waste that has been decontaminated need not be labeled or color-coded.
    2. Signs
      1. All signs shall be fluorescent orange-red or predominantly so, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color.
  10. Hepatitis B Vaccine
    1. Vaccination
      Subsequent to the training described in Section L, Hepatitis B Vaccination will be made available within 10 working days of initial assignment to all employees listed on the Exposure Determination list by the appropriate authorities and in accordance with this plan. Vaccine will be provided at no cost and in accordance with current United States Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendations. See Appendix I, Exhibit I, pages 55-58, for Exposure Control Plan Matrix. Vaccine is not required if the employee has had the vaccine series, is already immune, or has a medical contraindication. Documentation must be provided in all of these instances (Appendix I, Exhibit I , p 55- 58). Wytheville Community College is responsible for the costs of titering for immunity.
    2. Persons who decline vaccine must sign a waiver. See Appendix I, Exhibit VI, p 63. Employees, who initially decline, may later elect to receive the vaccine if they are still covered by this policy.
  11. Post Exposure Procedure
    1. An exposure incident is a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially contagious materials that results from the performance of an employee’s duties.
      1. Employees who experience an exposure incident must immediately report their exposure to their supervisor or designated manager, and to the Director of Human Resources. and fill out the Employee Reported Exposure Incident Form (Appendix I, Exhibit VII, p 64). When an employee reports an exposure incident, this would be treated as a Worker’s Compensation incident. A panel of physicians will be provided to the employee for treatment.
      2. Documentation of any incident incurred by an employee must be reported to the Director of Human Resources. The Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Forms (Appendix I, Exhibit IX, p 66-71) must include the route(s) of exposure, circumstances under which the exposure incident occurred, identification and documentation of the source individual to the Associate Vice President of Finance within 24 hours, or on the following business day.
        The vaccination status of the employee, student or patient involved in the incident will be provided if written consent has been given.
        Most current CDC and OSHA protocols will be followed, per the documents for completion, Employee Exposure Incident Form, Appendix I, Exhibit VII, p 64.
        If the infectivity status of the source individual is unknown, the individual’s blood will be tested as soon as feasible after consent is obtained, within 48 hours after the incident occurs. If the source individual’s blood is available, and law does not require the individual’s consent, the blood shall be tested and the results documented. The exposed individual will be informed of the results of the source individual’s testing and warned about breach of confidentiality.
        The exposed individual’s blood shall be collected as soon as feasible after consent is obtained, and tested for Hepatitis B Surface antigen (HBS Ag), Hepatitis C virus (HBC), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) serological status. If the individual consents to baseline blood collection, but does not give consent at that time for HIV serologic testing, the sample shall be preserved for at least 90 days. If, within have the baseline sample tested, such testing shall be done as soon as feasible.
        The exposed individual will be offered post-exposure prophylaxis, when medically indicated, as recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service. The exposed employee will be offered counseling and medical evaluation of any reported illnesses.
        The following information will be provided to the healthcare professional evaluating an employee after an exposure.
        A copy of 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens Standard;
        A description of the exposed individual’s duties as they relate to the exposure incident
        The documentation of the route(s) of exposure and circumstances under which exposure occurred;
        Results of the source individual’s blood testing, if available;
        All medical records relevant to the appropriate treatment of the employee including vaccination status.
      3. The Human Resources Department shall obtain and provide the exposed individual with a copy of the evaluating healthcare professional’s written opinion within 15 days of the completion of the evaluation. The written opinion will be limited to the following information:
        The exposed individual has been informed of the results of the evaluation;
        The exposed individual has been told about any medical conditions resulting from exposure to blood or other potentially contagious materials, which require further evaluation or treatment.
      4. The appropriate supervisor will begin the exposure form and forward it to Human Resource Office who will arrange for completion of the Employee Exposure Incident Form (see Appendix I, Exhibit VII, p 64).
        OSHA has changed the necessity for prior vaccination of individuals whose job description requires them to be certified in first aid. If first aid is rendered as a collateral duty only, the exposed individual may be treated as a post-exposure incident. However, the vaccination series must be made available within 24 hours.
  12. Employee Training
    1. Employees will be trained regarding bloodborne pathogens at the time of initial assignment to tasks where exposure may occur and annually, for all employees, during work hours, by the department supervisor or Program Head. Additional training will be provided whenever there are changes in tasks or procedures affecting employee’s occupational exposure; this training will be limited to the new exposure situation.
    2. The training approach will be tailored to the educational level, literacy, and language of the employees. The training will include an opportunity for employees to have their questions answered by the trainer.
    3. The following content will be included in the training:
      1. Explanation of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard;
      2. General explanation of the epidemiology, modes of transmission and symptoms of bloodborne diseases;
      3. Explanation of this Exposure Control Plan and how it will be implemented.
      4. Procedures which may expose employees to blood or other potentially contagious materials.
      5. Control methods that will be used at the facility to prevent/reduce the risk of exposure to blood or other potentially contagious materials;
      6. Explanation of the basis for selection of personal protective equipment;
      7. Information on the Hepatitis B Vaccination program, including the benefits and safety of vaccination;
      8. Information on procedures to use in an emergency involving blood or other potentially contagious materials;
      9. What procedure to follow if an exposure incident occurs;
      10. Explanation of post-exposure evaluation and follow-up procedures;
      11. Explanation of warning labels and/or color-coding.
        
        A variety of teaching methods may be used; however, audience interaction must be part of the program so that the employees have an opportunity to ask questions/clarification.
    4. Documentation of attendance is addressed in the recordkeeping section of this plan in Personnel Training Documentation Form: Groups (Appendix I, Exhibit XIII, p 76, and in the Personnel Training Documentation Form: Individual, Exhibit XIV, p 77.
  13. Employee Record Keeping
    1. Medical Records
    2. Wytheville Community College shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee with occupational exposure, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.
      1. This record shall include:
        The name and social security number of the employee;
        A copy of the employee’s Hepatitis B Vaccination status including the dates of all the Hepatitis B Vaccinations and any medical records relative to the employee’s ability to receive vaccination are required by Section J of this policy;
        A copy of all results of examinations, medical testing, and follow-up procedures as required by Section K of this policy;
        The employer’s copy of the healthcare professional’s written opinion ad required by Section K of this policy; and
        A copy of the information provided to the healthcare professional as required by Section K of this policy.
      2. Wytheville Community College shall ensure that employee medical records required by this section of the policy are:
        Kept confidential; and
        Are not disclosed or reported without the employee’s express written consent to any person within or outside the workplace except as required by this section or as may be required by law.
        Wytheville Community College shall maintain the records required by this Policy for at least the duration of employment plus 30 years in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.
        Training Records
        Training records shall include the following information:
        The dates of the training sessions;
        The contents or a summary of the training sessions;
        The names and qualifications of persons conducting the training; and
        The names and job titles of all persons attending the training sessions.
      3. Training records shall be maintained for 3 years from the date on which the training occurred.
      4. Wytheville Community College shall ensure that all records required to be maintained by this section shall be made available upon request to employees, to properly designated employee representatives, and to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.20.
  14. Employee Transfer of Records
    1. Wytheville Community College shall comply with the requirements involving transfer of records set forth in 29 CFR 1910.1020 (h).
    2. If Wytheville Community College ceases to do business and there is no successor employer to receive and retain the records for the prescribed period, the college shall notify affected current employees of their rights of access to records at least three months prior to the cessation of the college’s business.
  15. Compliance Review
    1. A review shall be conducted annually by the Director of Human Resources and Payroll Services to ensure that Wytheville Community College is in< compliance with this Exposure Control Policy.
    2. Annual training be provided to entire college personnel during in-service days each fall.
    3. See Appendix I, Personnel Training Documentation Form: Groups (Appendix I, Exhibit XIII p 76), and in the Personnel Training Documentation Form: Individual, (Exhibit XIV, p 77) for signed and dated review sheets.

Contagious Disease Exposures

Wytheville Community College strives to maintain an environment safe for all employees and students as well as patients in the on-campus clinic areas. While every type of emerging illness or organism cannot be anticipated, it is the intent of the college to provide for individual protection when such a health threat is identified. Since students enrolled in the health curricula are in contact with patients in clinical settings, it is the intent of college to, when feasible and reasonable, prevent spread of contagious diseases from infected students to patients in the on- and off-campus clinical areas. To that end, students who have been diagnosed with or suspect infection with a contagious, infectious disease are required to identify to their instructor when the risk of transmitting the disease to a patient in a clinical setting exists. Instructors will follow the CDC guidelines as outlined on the CDC website, with any questions, clarifications, or determinations of risk to be referred to the Wythe County Health Department Medical Director.

Information regarding the spread of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

VISA/VRSA Vancomycin-Intermediate/Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Information

The list of potential contagious diseases that may be acquired in healthcare facilities include the following:

Acinetobacter
Bloodborne Pathogens
Burkholderia cepacia
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Clostridium Difficile
Clostridium Sordellii
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE)
COVID
ESBL-producing Enterobacterales
Gram-negative Bacteria
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
Ebola (Viral Hemorrhagic Fever)
Gastrointestinal (GI) Infections
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
HIV/AIDS
Klebsiella
Influenza
MRSA – Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
Mumps
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)
Norovirus
Parvovirus
Poliovirus
Pneumonia
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Staphylococcus aureus
Rubella
SARS
S. pneumoniae (Drug resistant)
Tuberculosis
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (Ebola)
VISA – Vancomycin Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus
VRE – Vancomycin-resistant enterococci
Coronavirus 19

Information regarding each of these organisms can be obtained at http://www.cdc.gov/hai/