Environmental Health & Safety
In Compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1030 OSHA Standard for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
Printable files are available in two parts with Adobe Acrobat Reader:
- Methods of Compliance
- Waste Disposal
- Definition of Regulated Medical Waste (RMW)
- Infectious Waste
- Unbroken Blood Tubes
- Sharps
- Guidelines
- Hepatitis B Vaccination
- The hepatitis B vaccination series is recommended for all personnel at risk of occupational exposure to human blood or other potentially infectious materials.
- The University provides vaccination at no cost to employees identified in the exposure determination section of this plan. Department/Units included in this vaccine program are determined by the University Administration based on recommendations from Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Health and Infection Prevention Programs. Other requirements of the vaccination program include:
- The first vaccination shall be made available to all eligible employees within 10 working days of initial assignment.
- Employees who decline the hepatitis B vaccination at the time it is offered will be required to sign a statement explaining that they understand the risks associated with acquiring hepatitis B virus infection, that they were offered the vaccination at no charge, and that if they change their mind in the future they can then receive the vaccination.
- If an employee initially declines hepatitis B vaccination but at a later date (while still covered under the standard) decides to accept the vaccination, the employer shall make available hepatitis B vaccination at that time at no cost to the employee.
- If a routine booster dose(s) of hepatitis B vaccine is recommended by the United States Public Health Service at a future date, such booster doses(s) shall be made available to employees with continued occupational exposures at no cost to the employees.
- Vaccine Preparation - Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine
- Vaccine Administration - Vaccine is given in the deltoid muscle in a series of 3 injections (initial, 1 month, 6 months).
- Pre-vaccination serologic screening is not routinely performed. If an employee wishes to be screened prior to vaccination, he/she may do so at his/her own expense.
- Post-vaccination screening and revaccination as per University of Rochester Medical Center/Strong Memorial Hospital Bloodborne Pathogens Protocol
- Post-vaccination screening (anti-HBs = Hepatitis B surface antibody) is performed 1-2 months after the third dose of vaccine. Vaccine non-responders (negative anti-HBs) will be revaccinated followed by anti-HBs screening.
- Employees previously vaccinated, but never screened for anti-HBs, may be screened at a later time and revaccinated if necessary (negative anti-HBs).
- Routine periodic screening and/or revaccination is not presently recommended by the United States Public Health Service, except as part of exposure follow-up.
- Vaccinees who request periodic screening and/or revaccination, except as specified above, may do so at their own expense.
Any liquid or semi-liquid blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are capable of releasing blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials during handling; used or unused sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials. Also included are cultures and stocks of infectious agents, contaminated animal carcasses, body parts and bedding of animals known to have been exposed to infectious agents. (See Appendix 5 for disposal guidelines.) Feces or materials saturated with feces are not RMW. Urine or materials saturated with urine is not RMW unless the urine is submitted as a clinical specimen for laboratory tests or if the patient is known to have a disease which may be transmitted through urine.
All infectious waste destined for disposal shall be placed in closable leak-proof containers or bags which are red in color. The containers should be labeled with the universal biohazard warning sign or the word "Biohazard". The labels should be fluorescent orange or orange-red with lettering and symbols in contrasting colors. If outside contamination of the container or bag is likely to occur, then a second closable leak-proof container or bag shall be placed over the outside of the first and closed to prevent leakage during handling, storage, and transport. (This applies only to internal transportation of regulated medical waste. External shipments are subject to additional requirements. Contact the Environmental Compliance manager at x5-4699 for more information.)
All unbroken blood tubes shall be disposed of in a hospital approved sharps shelter or in a plastic-lined cardboard box specifically approved for this purpose.
Immediately after use, sharps shall be disposed of in closable, puncture resistant, disposable containers. These containers shall be easily accessible to personnel and located in the immediate area of use. Sharps containers will be replaced when ¾ full. Eastman Institute for Oral Health employees are to contact the Maintenance Department at ext. 5-5070 for sharps container replacement.
Guidelines for the disposal of regulated medical waste can be found in APPENDIX 5. Additional information can obtained from the Environmental Compliance Manager at ext. 5-4699.
Continue to Section IV, Part H - Labels
QUESTIONS? Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail EH&S Questions.
This page last updated 8/22/2019. Disclaimer
