Duraclean Journal of Marketing, Management and Technical Topics

OSHA's BBP Standard: Your Questions Answered




The following article is a condensation from the "Safety News Alert" newsletter from BLR (http://www.blr.com). It provides information on OSHA’s bloodborne pathogen standard that applies to all “reasonably anticipated” contact with blood (or other potentially infectious materials) that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties.


Many OSHA standards raise compliance questions, and the bloodborne pathogen (BBP) standard is no exception. BLR selected a few of those questions that BLR® customers have asked the safety experts at our sister website Safety.BLR.com®.

Q. Does OSHA’s BBP standard apply to all personnel with first-aid training?
A. Employees who are designated to provide first aid as a primary or collateral duty are covered by the BBP standard. An employee who voluntarily performs a "good Samaritan act" is not covered, however, because that is not considered an occupational, or work-related, exposure.

Q. What OSHA regulations govern the disposal of biohazard -contaminated material once it has been placed in an approved biohazard plastic bag? How do we throw away a used biohazard bag?
A. OSHA’s BBP standard states: "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" [CFR 29 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(C)].

Biohazard disposal is usually regulated by state departments of environmental protection. You should check with your state DEP.

Q. Would individuals designated for cleanup of blood on the shop floor and equipment be covered by the BBP standard?
A. While OSHA does not generally consider maintenance personnel and janitorial staff employed in nonhealthcare facilities to have occupational exposure, it is the employer’s responsibility to determine which job classifications or specific tasks and procedures involve occupational exposure.

For example, OSHA expects products such as discarded sanitary napkins to be discarded into waste containers that are lined in such a way as to prevent contact with the contents. But at the same time, the employer must determine if employees can come into contact with blood during the normal handling of such products from initial pickup through disposal in the outgoing trash. If OSHA determines, on a case-by-case basis, that sufficient evidence of reasonably anticipated exposure exists, the employer will be held responsible for providing the protections of the BBP standard to the employees with occupational exposure.

Q. What are the requirements for disposal of rags soaked with blood?
A. Regulated waste such as rags soaked in blood must be placed in containers that are:

• Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;
• Labeled or color-coded in accordance with paragraph 1910.1030(g)(1)(i) of the standard;
• Closed before removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.

If outside contamination of the regulated waste container occurs, it must be placed in a second container that also meets these requirements.

Q. Are disposable razors considered sharps?
A. If the razor was contaminated with another person’s blood and an employee got cut on it, it would be covered under the BBP standard (29 CFR 1910.1030).

Q. Who must be trained under the BBP standard and what is the frequency of training?
A. Anyone who has the potential for occupational exposure as defined below needs to be trained. Assuming this is not a healthcare facility, this would include designated first responders to medical emergencies in the workplace.

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

Training shall be provided as follows:

• 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)(A)-(C): At the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place and at least annually thereafter.
• 1910.1030(g)(2)(v): Employers shall provide additional training when changes such as modification of tasks or procedures or institution of new tasks or procedures affect the employee’s occupational exposure. The additional training may be limited to addressing the new exposures created.

Labels: Bloodborne Pathogens, Safety Compliance, Safety Management

In addition, Mold Newsletters No. 4 and 11 have been slightly revised.

There will be several more mold newsletters that will round out this series. They will address the actual remediation process.

To access the water, fire and mold remediation newsletters click on the following link:

http://www.duracleanfranchise.com/downloads/downloads.htm

Labels: Fire Damage Restoration, Mold, Mold Remediation, Newsletters, Water Damage Restoration

Labels: Announcements

The following article is a condensation from the "Safety News Alert" newsletter from BLR (http://www.blr.com). It provides housekeeping suggestions to make your place of business safer.

In some workplaces, good housekeeping tends to fall at the end of the priority list for both management and employees. But that’s a problem because there is a direct correlation between a clean, neat, well-organized workplace and a safe healthy one.

Good, safe housekeeping doesn’t just happen. Nor is it something you can do once a month and forget about. It’s a daily mission that must be tackled with energy, focus, and purpose. You have to plan for it, involve employees in it, and sustain it. But if you do, the rewards are substantial—fewer accidents, greater productivity, and a more pleasant, healthy place for all to work.

"Poor housekeeping can frequently contribute to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries," according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS). "If the sight of paper, debris, clutter and spills is accepted as normal, then other, more serious health and safety hazards may be taken for granted."

Focus Your Program
CCOHS highlights these essentials of an effective housekeeping program:

• Regular dirt and dust removal


• Adequate employee facilities, such as wash rooms and locker rooms


• Proper maintenance of walking and working surfaces


• Maintenance of lighting fixtures


• Attention to aisles and stairways to make sure they are kept clear


• Spill control


• Proper storage of tools and equipment


• Effective waste disposal


• Organizing and cleaning storage areas
  

In addition, CCOHS says that the maintenance of buildings and equipment may be the most important element of good housekeeping.
"Maintenance involves keeping buildings, equipment and machinery in safe, efficient working order and in good repair." This includes maintaining sanitary facilities, regularly painting and cleaning walls, and fixing broken windows, damaged doors, defective plumbing, and damaged floor surfaces.

Reap the Benefits
One of the toughest jobs you face in implementing an effective workplace housekeeping program is selling employees on its benefits. But the benefits are many, so try sharing these with your workers:

• Fewer accidents and injuries


• Fewer fire hazards


• Fewer slip, trip, and fall hazards


• Reduced exposure to hazardous substances


• Improved efficiency and productivity


• More efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance


• Better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies


• Reduced handling to ease the flow of materials


• Better hygienic conditions leading to improved health


• More effective use of space
  

To achieve these benefits regularly, CCOHS suggests integrating housekeeping responsibilities into employees' jobs. This helps ensure that these duties are faithfully fulfilled.

An effective housekeeping program identifies and assigns responsibilities for:

• General workstation cleanup during and at the end of each shift


• Daily housekeeping duties for the entire work area


• Removal of scrap and unused materials


• Proper storage of tools, materials, etc.


• Inspection to ensure housekeeping duties are completed and done properly

Labels: Safety Compliance, Safety Management, Training

# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 11:03 AM

A Closer Look at H1N1 Reports







The following article is a condensation from the "Safety News Alert" newsletter from BLR (http://www.blr.com). It provides additional information, related links and suggestions for disease prevention.


As was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 15, 2009, the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus has been detected in 206 countries, accounting for roughly 6,770 deaths — a conservative estimate.

Though some experts claim the pandemic has reached its zenith, with over 526,000 confirmed cases and counting worldwide, it remains vital that building service contractors (BSCs) and in-house professionals stay abreast of this highly contagious — but realistically beatable — foe.
According to a recent WHO report, "Influenza transmission continues to intensify in Canada without a clear peak in activity. The influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate, which has been highest among children aged 5-19, continues to significantly exceed mean rates observed over the past 12 influenza seasons. In the United States, influenza transmission remains active and geographically widespread, although disease activity appears to have recently peaked in most areas except in the Northeastern states."

The same report provided the following information about infection rates in Eurasian nations: "In Europe, widespread and increasing transmission of pandemic influenza virus was observed across much of the continent, but the most intense circulation of virus occurred in Northern, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In East Asia, influenza transmission remains active."

The WHO goes on to note that in tropical zone of the Americas and Asia, the intensity of influenza transmission is variable, and in the temperate region of the southern hemisphere, little pandemic influenza activity has been reported.

What Does It All Mean?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in an effort to help the populace better understand the figures, releases a weekly report called FluView that analyzes data to paint a clear and concise picture of the current situation.

Some of the CDC's recommendations for remaining healthy during the H1N1 pandemic include:

• Washing your hands often with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs are easily spread this way;
• Avoid close contact with sick people; if you become sick, remain home until at least 24 hours after flu-like symptoms cease;
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
  

Studies have shown that the influenza virus can survive for two to eight hours on surfaces and still have the ability to infect humans and animals.
Because of this, the CDC recommends using a hospital-grade disinfectant to frequently clean contaminated surfaces.

The Future Of The Formidable Flu
According to the WHO, mutations of H1N1 have been detected in Norway, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine and the United States.
While the prospect of a mutation of an already-mutated flu virus is alarming, cleaning professionals can rest assured that the same techniques employed to eradicate the common flu virus and its H1N1 spin off — frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces, proper hand washing and promoting general hygiene practices — are effective in the fight against the new strain.

As news of this continuously developing situation is constantly updated, we strongly encourage you to frequent cmmonline.com, cdc.gov and who.int for the latest H1N1-related information.

Labels: Safety Management, Swine Flu