1. General Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Annual Training
In accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogen Standard 29 CFR

2. Important Contact Numbers
Here are important phone numbers you need to know related to this training module:
Emergency: from a campus phone or
from cell phone
Questions regarding this training should be directed to the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Biosafety Officer at

3. Why is bloodborne pathogen training required every year?
It is the law
It is North Carolina State University’s responsibility
Knowing this information can protect your health and the health of others
It works!

4. 1. It is the law
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency charged with enforcing health and safety legislation. OSHA makes sure that employers such as NC State University keep you, the worker, safe from workplace hazards. Some jobs at NC State are more likely to come into contact with hazards than others. The hazards we are concerned about in this program are germs called “bloodborne pathogens.”

5. 2. It is the university’s responsibility
Departments, Supervisors, and/or Principal Investigators must prove to OSHA that they are following the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard by implementing an Exposure Control Plan. By law, the Exposure Control Plan must detail certain steps that are taken to keep workers safe, that is, the plan to control every worker’s exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
This training reviews the general information covered in the model Exposure Control Plan. Departments, Supervisors and/or Principal Investigators complete the model Exposure Control Plan for their workers who are expected to have job-related exposures to bloodborne pathogens. The model Exposure Control Plan is located at .

6. 2. It is the university’s responsibility (continued)
All NC State University workers identified for occupational exposure must be familiar with their Exposure Control Plan that their Supervisor, Principal Investigator, or Department designee updates annually. Also, as a condition of employment, each worker must know its location and comply with the contents of their Exposure Control Plan.

7. 3. Knowing this information can protect your health and the health of others
For some NC State workers, the potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens may exist when encountering spilled blood or body fluids, or equipment or waste contaminated with human blood or body fluids. Some locations on campus are more likely than others to have contaminated equipment or materials.

8. # of exposures reported nationally
4. It works!
Research shows that trainings such as this reduce the number of exposures in just about every group studied.
# of exposures reported nationally
(Source: CDC [2002a].)

9. Exposure Determination
Departments, Supervisors, and/or Principal Investigators, in cooperation with EHS, use the model Exposure Control Plan to document and track the status of occupational exposure determinations to bloodborne pathogens according to the OSHA Standard (29 CFR ) for employees according to job duties and/or location.
Each determination must be made without regard to use of personal protective equipment and should be conducted upon orientation and “no later than 10 days after the date of employment” (OSHA).
This determination must made
without regard to use of PPE.

10. Exposure Determination
Supervisors are reminded annually to assess this hazard upon completion of the annual Supervisor’s Self Assessment Checklist .

11. How do I determine “Occupational Exposure”?
The OSHA definition states that you have “Occupational Exposure” if your duties may result in a …
…reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane or parenteral contact* with human blood or other potentially infectious materials.
*Parenteral contact is:
piercing mucous membranes or skin barrier through such events as needlesticks, human bites, cuts and abrasions.
…for definitions of blood or OPIM (other potentially infectious materials), read on

12. Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM)?
What are
Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM)?
Bloodborne pathogens live and grow best in human blood. However, other human body fluids may also carry these germs. When making an Exposure Determination, Supervisors must also consider that OPIM are able to provide an environment for bloodborne pathogens to live and grow:
Semen
Vaginal secretions
Any fluid surrounding organs in the body
Visible blood in saliva, vomit, or feces

13. More OPIM
Also considered Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM) are:
Any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood;
All body fluids when it is difficult to differentiate between body fluids;
Any unfixed organ or tissue* from a human, living or dead (clinics & morgues) and;
Other experimental human material (from laboratories) whether purposely infected or otherwise.
* For researchers, this includes primary and continuous human cell lines (even HELA and 293 cells). Click this link for more info on the OSHA BBP Standard and established human cell lines (OSHA interpretation letter 06/21/1994).
…so if I may come into contact with this material as part of my job description, I need to be enrolled in the Bloodborne Pathogens program.

14. Making an Exposure Determination at NC State University
These questions can aid in making an Exposure Determination for workers at NC State University:
--Does the employee work as part of a spill clean-up crew for human blood, or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)?
--Is the employee a First Responder (e.g. public safety, EMS, etc.)?
--Is the worker expected to handle or otherwise manipulate the following items as part of their duties:
Biohazard Waste
Sewage from human health care facilities
Lab equipment or materials labeled with the biohazard warning label or labeled with a red bag bearing the biohazard warning symbol 
Primary or continuous human cell lines (even well established lines like HELA and 293).
--Do the job duties of the employee require him/her to otherwise come in contact with human blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)?

15. Environmental Health & Safety can help
As a University worker, if you have concerns about your exposure to bloodborne pathogens, you should discuss them with your supervisor and EHS.
Your supervisor and EHS can help determine ways to make your job safer.

16. Now that we’ve discussed how to make an exposure determination, let’s look at what it means to be exposed.

17. Epidemiology
Simply put, epidemiology is the science of tracking the spread of disease among a population.
The population of concern in this training is workers who are potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens at NC State University.
And the diseases of concern here are those caused by bloodborne pathogens.

18. What are Bloodborne Pathogens?
Bloodborne Pathogens are germs that live and grow best in human material like blood. They enter your body through a puncture in your skin or through your eyes, nose or mouth.
Many diseases are linked to bloodborne pathogens, but few bloodborne pathogens are frequently responsible for infections in the workplace.
OSHA defines bloodborne pathogens as:
“Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood that can cause disease in humans.”

19. The “Big Three”
Only workers with documented training about Bloodborne Pathogens and their Exposure Control Plan should handle materials contaminated with human blood or OPIM.
As part of this training, the worker should know some basic concepts about these diseases so that s/he can discuss them with a supervisor, family members, and their health care provider.
The risks and infections of the “Big Three” bloodborne pathogens will be discussed in this training:
hepatitis B virus (HBV)
hepatitis C virus (HCV)
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

20. Disease Transmission in the Workplace
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV are passed by contact with the blood or other body fluids of someone who has the virus.
The three main ways to get hepatitis B, C, or HIV are:
(1) having sex without latex condoms with someone who is infected;
(2) being born to a mother who is infected; and
(3) sharing needles and syringes with someone who is infected.
During normal workplace duties Bloodborne Pathogens are not a major concern. But we know that these viruses can be carried in infected human bodily fluids such as those defined under “Other Potentially Infectious Materials” (OPIM) in this training. And, if the Potentially Infectious Material contains enough of these pathogens, they can get into your bloodstream and may eventually cause disease.
They can enter the bloodstream if the fluids come into contact with an unprotected break in your skin such as an open wound, acne, rash, etc. or if you experience a splash to your eyes, nose, or mouth.

21. Viral Hepatitis
“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus.
Your liver helps your body digest food, store energy, and get rid of poisons. It acts as a filtration system for your body.
As the filter begins to fail, impurities build up in your body and symptoms can occur such as jaundice (yellowing color of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, and sometimes joint pain, rash, and fever.

22. Types of Viral Hepatitis
There are at least five types of viral hepatitis and each one is caused by a different virus. Hepatitis B is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the United States, HBV and HCV are the most common types related to occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
Viral Hepatitis
At least 5 types:
Hep A
Hep B Virus (HBV)
Hep C Virus (HCV)
Hep D
Hep E

23. Hepatitis B in the U.S.
Annually, there are 10,000 new cases of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reported in the U.S., with an estimated one to two million carriers of HBV.
The hepatitis B virus takes about 2 months to show up in your blood. It may stay in your blood for months or years. Nine out of every 10 adults will get rid of the virus from their bodies after a few months. We say they have acute hepatitis B. One out of every 10 adults will never get rid of the virus from their bodies. We say they have chronic hepatitis B. They are called carriers.
Most people with chronic hepatitis B will remain carriers of the virus if they do not get treated. The best things carriers can do is make sure their babies get all of their hepatitis B shots, make sure they do not spread it to their sex partners, and get good medical care.
(Source:

24. Hepatitis B Vaccination
A safe and effective vaccine to prevent hepatitis B has been available since In short, a vaccine teaches your body how to defend against the virus and fight it off before it can make you sick. All NC State University employees working under an Exposure Control Plan must meet the requirements for Hepatatis B vaccination as a condition of employment.
OSHA requires that vaccination be made available within 10 working days of initial assignment.

25. Do you still need to schedule or decline the Hepatitis B vaccine?
This requirement needs to be met within 10 working days after your exposure determination is made.
The vaccine is offered by NC State University at no cost to you.
To obtain the Hepatitis B vaccination, complete these steps:
Refer to the Procedures for Requesting a Vaccination section of your department’s or supervisor’s Exposure Control Plan.
Notify your supervisor of your request.
Schedule your appointment with the Clinic indicated on your Exposure Control Plan.
To Decline the Hepatitis B vaccination: Copy the Declination Form located in your Exposure Control Plan. Complete the form and submit a copy according to the instructions on the form.
Go on, do it now.

26. A healthy and diseased human liver
Hepatitis C Virus
Hepatitis C virus is the most frequently occurring bloodborne pathogen infection. At least 85 out of 100 people infected with HCV become chronically infected, and chronic liver disease develops in an average of 67 out of HCV is most often transmitted by large or repeated percutaneous (skin puncture) exposures to blood, such as through the transfusion of blood or blood products from infected donors and sharing of contaminated needles among injection drug users. There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.
A healthy and diseased human liver

27. Hepatitis A?
Unlike Hepatitis B and C, Hepatitis A is not a bloodborne pathogen. Instead, it is transmitted by the fecal oral route. It is mentioned here because many people in the USA (33 out of 100 people) have had Hepatitis A virus with the most common being school children and young adults. Infection with HAV is always acute; it is therefore much less severe than HBV or HCV. A vaccine is available for HAV. All prevention programs for NC State University employees should emphasize proper handwashing after visiting or working in bathrooms or other fecal-contaminated areas.
Source: Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease 1984;9-22 J Infect Dis 1989;160:

28. Wash Your Hands Often!
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 Seconds. The suds scrub dirt and germs away. Don't Leave Anything Out. Wash your hands front and back and between the fingers. Soap up your wrists too. And don't forget your fingernails.
Hands are to be washed immediately or as soon as feasible after removal of gloves or other personal protective equipment.
Use a utility or restroom sink for handwashing, do not use sinks in food preparation areas.
If handwashing facilities are not immediately available use antiseptic hand cleanser and/or disposable wipes for the short term...
…but wash your hands as soon as handwashing facilities are available.

29. HIV
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. The immune system gives our bodies the ability to fight infections. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), the final stage of HIV infection. It can take years for a person infected with HIV, even without treatment, to reach this stage. Having AIDS means that the virus has weakened the immune system to the point at which the body has a difficult time fighting infections.

30. HIV Testing
The only way to know whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV. You cannot rely on symptoms alone because many people who are infected with HIV do not have symptoms for many years. Someone can look and feel healthy but can still be infected. In fact, one quarter of the HIV-infected persons in the United States do not know that they are infected.
Once HIV enters the body, the body starts to produce antibodies—substances the immune system creates after infection. Most HIV tests look for these antibodies rather than the virus itself. There are many different kinds of HIV tests, including rapid tests and home test kits. All HIV tests approved by the US government are very good at identifying HIV.

31. More about HIV
HIV is a fragile virus. It cannot live for very long outside the body. As a result, the virus is not transmitted through day-to-day activities such as shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, drinking fountain, doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. You also cannot get HIV from mosquitoes.
HIV can enter the bloodstream similarly to HBV: if potentially infectious materials (like blood) come into contact with an unprotected break in your skin such as an open wound, acne, rash, etc. or if you experience a splash into your eyes and/or nose.

32. Responding to an incident at NC State University
Now that we’ve discussed what it means to be exposed, let’s look what to do in the event of a potential exposure.
An important part of this training program is to make sure all employees know (1) if they have an exposure incident and (2) what to do after they have an exposure incident. An exposure incident could happen three ways:
When human blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) get onto an unprotected break in your skin such as an open wound, acne, rash, etc.; or
When blood or OPIM splashes or otherwise gets into your eyes, nose, or mouth; or
If you are cut or stuck by an object (it must break the skin) that is contaminated with human blood or OPIM.

33. What is a BBP exposure? The OSHA Definition:
“A specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin or parenteral contact with blood or OPIM that results from the performance of an employee’s duties.”
Also, remember:
NC State University requires you to report ANY incident resulting in injury from the performance of your duties.
BBP Exposure = Blood, OPIM contact with:
Eye,
Nose,
Mouth,
Shaving cut, rash, etc.

34. What to do for needlesticks, cuts from contaminated objects, animal bites or scratches:
Remove contaminated gloves and if possible, allow the wound to bleed freely for a minute.
Wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and apply sterile gauze or a bandage, if necessary.
Decontaminate and remove protective clothing and
CALL 911 to be escorted to a medical facility.

35. What to do for splash to eyes, nose, or mouth:
Rinse the area with continuous clean running water.
Eyes should be irrigated for at least 15 minutes using an emergency eyewash station if available or a sink.
Decontaminate and remove protective clothing and
CALL 911 to be escorted to a medical facility.

36. Report Exposures Immediately!
Immediately report exposures to your supervisor and Dial 911.
After any exposure to human blood or OPIM, employees must be seen immediately at an Occupational Health Clinic or Emergency Room. Dial 911 so that NC State University emergency responders can help you determine the need for immediate treatment and escort you to the proper location for appropriate blood tests to be drawn and medications to be dispensed.

37. Post Exposure Evaluation
Following the incident, you will be provided with a post exposure medical evaluation.
This evaluation may include:
Documenting routes of exposure
Documenting circumstances of the incident
Identifying sources of contamination
Blood tests with consent from employee
Post exposure prophylaxis and counseling
Employees are not billed for work-related injuries and medical records are kept separate and confidential from performance reviews.

38. Bloodborne Pathogens Spills
Spills may occur when an injured person drips blood on the floor, when sewage overflows, or when containers of human blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) are dropped in the clinic or laboratory.
Employees designated to participate in emergency and decontamination procedures are exposed to blood or OPIM; they are to be thoroughly familiar with proper cleaning and decontamination procedures so that the contamination is contained and exposure to other people is minimized.

39. Remember Your Sharps Precautions During a Spill
Contaminated broken glassware is cleaned up by mechanical means (e.g. tongs, forceps, pieces of cardboard).

40. Bloodborne Pathogens Spill Clean Up Kits Typically Include:
1 pair disposable latex gloves,
1 disposable faceshield,
1 disposable face mask,
1 pair disposable shoe covers,
1 disposable apron, 1 absorbent pack (w/ MSDS),
2 disposable towelettes (w/ MSDS),
2 scoops/scrapers,
2 biohazard bags with ties,
1 disposable towel,
1 instruction sheet,
1 can 12 oz. Disinfectant spray (w/ MSDS)

41. Spill Clean Up: Sample Procedure
First, evacuate the area and allow 30 minutes for germs in the air to settle prior to spill cleanup and locate the Blood and Bodily Fluid Clean-Up Kit. Instructions are located on the inside top lid. Instructions are in English and Spanish

42. Spill Clean Up: Example
Open the kit and put on the following Personal Protection Equipment (PPE):
Disposable exam gloves
Disposable face mask
Disposable face shield
Disposable apron (unfold apron fully)
Disposable shoe covers 1.

43. Spill Clean Up: Example (continued)
2. Open clean-up absorbent pack and sprinkle entire contents of absorbent material evenly over bodily fluid spill (will absorb times its weight). 2.

44. Spill Clean Up: Example (continued)
3. After the spill gels (1-2 minutes), use scoop/scraper to pick up material and put into Red Biohazard Bag and tie shut. Keep Personal Protection Equipment on. 3.

45. Spill Clean Up: Example (continued)
Follow the directions to apply the enclosed disinfectant (OSHA recommends a disinfectant registered to kill tuberculosis – e.g. phenolic) over the spill area and allow for the contact time indicated on the product. 4.

46. Spill Clean Up: Example (continued)
5. Use disposable wiping cloth to wipe up all the disinfectant, and then discard in second Red Biohazard Plastic Bag. 5.

47. Spill Clean Up: Example (continued)
6. Place all items including PPE and first Red Biohazard Plastic Bag into the second Red Biohazard Plastic Bag. To minimize contamination to your face, remove PPE in the following order: (1) disposable shoe covers; (2) disposable apron and; (3) disposable exam gloves. 6.

48. Spill Clean Up: Example (continued)
7. To minimize contamination to your face use antiseptic towelettes to clean hands before removing the disposable face shield and, lastly, the disposable face mask.
Decontaminate hands before putting them to the face.

49. Spill Clean Up: Example (continued)
8. Close the Red Biohazard Bag securely with twist tie to prevent leakage. Contact EHS to dispose of the waste in accordance with local regulations . Finally, wash hands as soon as possible.

50. What to do with biohazard waste after spill clean up
Never throw untreated biohazard waste in the regular trash!
The disposal of this waste generated on the NC State University campus is subject to federal, state, and local regulations. After spill clean-up is complete and you have closed the Red Biohazard Bag securely with twist tie to prevent leakage, place the waste in a low traffic area and contact your supervisor. The supervisor is responsible for contacting the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at After the location and other pertinent information is given, EHS will remove the waste for proper disposal.

51. Preventing Incidents at NC State University
Now that we’ve discussed how to respond in the event of a potential exposure, let’s look at how to protect ourselves and others from exposure.
Make sure you know what’s expected to prevent exposures and protect the campus community. It all starts with universal precautions.

52. Universal Precautions
In the mid-1980s, health care facilities began adopting “universal precautions” against exposure to body fluids. These were followed in 1992 with the OSHA BBP Standard.
These measures were included in annual training requirements and reduced incidents of work-related Hepatitis B infections.

53. What Are Universal Precautions?
“Universal Precautions” is the basis of every Bloodborne Pathogens training program. It is a simple approach to protecting yourself on the job.
Because an Exposure Determination has already been made for your position, whenever you suspect the material is contaminated with bloodborne pathogens, you always respond as if bloodborne pathogens are present.
Universal Precautions takes the guesswork out of responding to an incident. This means that if you anticipate human blood, body fluids (except sweat), or OPIM (i.e. sewage), you always wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and follow the specific requirements designated by your Exposure Control Plan. This is also true for anything with a biohazard label on it.

54. Biohazard Symbol
Communication of hazards is a key component to any OSHA and other safety program.
The Biohazard symbol is used to alert others of the potential presence of biohazardous materials such as human blood, body fluids, and OPIM.
This symbol is fluorescent orange or red/orange with contrasting letters and has the universal biohazard symbol.

55. Biohazard Labels
In laboratories, biohazard labels are commonly used on:
Containers of biohazard waste
Refrigerators and freezers used to store human specimens
Containers used to store, transport and ship human specimens
Any equipment that could be potentially contaminated with human blood, OPIM, and other material that could allow bloodborne pathogens to live or to grow.
We use the biohazard symbol at NC State University to provide a method for hazard communication between lab workers, visiting professors, Facilities Operations workers, Housekeeping personnel, vendors, and others who may come into contact with this material.

56. Biohazard Door Signs
The Universal Biohazard Symbol may be posted on entryways to laboratories on campus. These laboratories are called Biosafety Level 2 or BSL-2 labs. Posted BSL-2 areas are laboratories designated to work with bloodborne pathogens or with material that may allow germs that cause illness to humans, including bloodborne pathogens, to live and grow.
It is safe to enter areas that are labeled with a BIOHAZARD symbol. DO NOT handle anything labeled as biohazardous in these areas without special training. For example, it is very important that all open sores are covered and protected if work is required in these areas. Wear gloves and face protection when working in areas where contact with blood or OPIM is possible. Untreated waste in biohazard waste bins should never be handled by untrained workers in BSL-2 areas.

57. Controls in the Workplace
The OSHA Standard requires employers like NC State University to minimize hazards to workers. These precautions are commonly called “controls.”
Workers must observe certain “controls” according to their bloodborne pathogen Exposure Control Plan at NC State University such as “Engineering Controls” and “Work Practice Controls.”

58. Engineering Controls Sharps disposal containers Safer needle devices
Let’s face it, no matter how good we think our technique is, we are bound to have a bad day once in a while and make a mistake.
Engineering Controls are designed to minimize the impact of human errors when we are handling material that may contain bloodborne pathogens.
Engineering Controls specifically isolate or remove the hazard from the workplace.
Workers should be familiar with the engineering controls described on their Exposure Control Plan to isolate or remove the hazard of bloodborne pathogens. Examples include:
Sharps disposal containers
Safer needle devices
Biological safety cabinets

59. Sharps Disposal Containers
Biohazard sharps include:
Any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin
Needles
Scalpels
Razor blades
Lancets
Syringes with/without needles
Slides, Slide covers
Specimen tubes and
Broken glass
Overfilling the sharps container can result in exposures when the next person tries to use the container. To prevent overfilling, always dispose of sharps containers when they are 2/3 full.

60. Sharps Precautions Needles/contaminated sharps:
Must never be bent, recapped or removed unless there is no alternative;
May only be recapped using a mechanical device or one handed technique;
Must never be sheared or broken;
Must be placed in a plastic sharps container labeled with the biohazard symbol.

61. Safer Needle Devices
When possible, safer needle devices should be used in the laboratory.
Some examples of safer devices (including animation of how they work) can be found on the OSHA website at the Safer Needles Section:

62. Biological Safety Cabinets
Biological Safety Cabinets are used in laboratories when conducting procedures with a potential for creating aerosols or splashes of blood/OPIM.
For more information about proper use of a biological safety cabinet, refer to the Laboratory Biosafety Manual.

63. Work Practice Controls
Work Practice Controls specifically reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task is performed.
For example, consider your technique when cleaning a spill. Germs can spread more readily when we cause splashing, spraying, spattering, and airborne droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials. A good approach to cleaning a spill of material that minimizes spread by airborne droplets is to: (1) place paper towels over the spill site, and then (2) douse the area with disinfectant. This will reduce further splashing any potentially infectious material.

64. Work Practice Controls: Examples
Hand washing. Hands are to be washed immediately or as soon as feasible after removal of gloves or other personal protective equipment. Use a utility or restroom sink for handwashing, do not use sinks in food preparation areas. If handwashing facilities are not immediately available use antiseptic hand cleanser and/or disposable wipes. Wash your hands as soon as handwashing facilities are available.
Prevent Ingestion. Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited during duties where there is reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material or in BSL-2 areas.
Storage of food and drink is prohibited in refrigerators, freezers, shelves, cabinets or on countertops or bench tops where blood or other potentially infectious materials are present.

65. More Work Practice Controls
Sharps Precautions. Disposing of sharps in the proper container and disposing of the container when it is 2/3 full helps keep others safe. Remember, any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin, including needles, scalpels and glass objects requires extra attention.
Contaminated needles. Contaminated needles are not to be bent, broken, recapped, or removed from the syringe. If you have no way to tell if the needle is contaminated or not, use Universal Precautions: assume the needle is contaminated. Contaminated needles are to be placed in the plastic sharps containers described previously and autoclaved before disposal.
Broken glassware which may be contaminated with human blood or OPIM must not be collected directly with the hands. Wear gloves and use tongs or a brush and dust pan. While small shards of contaminated broken glass can be placed into sharps containers, large contaminated broken glass items must be autoclaved separately in a hard-walled container (such as a cardboard box) lined with a biohazard bag. The autoclaved glass waste is to be disposed of in a larger cardboard box lined with a plastic bag, clearly marked with the "GLASS AND SHARPS" label.

66. Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard.
General work clothes (including uniforms) are not PPE.

67. PPE
Whenever your duties create the potential for exposure to blood or OPIM, personal protective equipment such as gloves and eye protection for cleaning spills must be available and utilized.
It is NC State University’s responsibility as an employer to provide PPE in the appropriate sizes that is readily accessible to your worksite or issued to you as a properly trained employee. If a garment(s) is penetrated by blood or OPIM, the garment(s) must be removed immediately or as soon as feasible.

68. PPE Removal
All PPE must be removed and placed in a designated container (for storage, decontamination, or disposal) prior to leaving the spill work area.
Here is a sample removal technique when gloves are contaminated:
Grasp outside of glove with opposite glove hand; peel off
Hold removed glove in gloved hand
Slide fingers of ungloved hand under remaining glove at wrist
Peel glove off over first glove
Discard glove in waste container
Wash hands immediately

69. PPE (continued) PPE is NOT worn outside of the work area.
Gloves must be removed prior to washing hands and leaving the spill area.
DO NOT wear gloves on elevators (even if they are “clean”) or use them to open doors or touch equipment (i.e. phones, computers) that others will be handling without gloves.

70. Laundry
Soiled clothing or lab coats may contain organisms that cause disease.
Handle clothing or lab coats soiled with blood or OPIM as little as possible, using gloves and appropriate protective clothing.
Place articles soiled with blood in bags that prevent leakage.
Contaminated articles and lab coats are not to be taken home for cleaning. Workers should reference their Exposure Control Plan regarding arrangements that can be made for laundering.

71. Safety Resources
Below is a list of Safety Resources that can provide you with more safety information.
OSHA Topics Page
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
Exposure to Blood: What Health Care Workers Need to Know (CDC)
As It Should Be Done: Workplace Precautions Against Bloodborne Pathogens (24 minute video, OSHA)
Sharps Safety: Workbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program (CDC)

72. Questions???
If you have any questions, please contact the Biosafety Officer in Environmental Health and Safety at between 8 am and 5 pm.
Don’t forget to take the exam to get credit for this course!
To begin the exam, click here