300-21 Communicable Disease Policy

Question 1

The Houston Police Department shall provide training for employees to minimize their exposure to contagious diseases. Also, the department shall furnish appropriate equipment to protect employees from potential exposure to a communicable disease in situations that can be _____.

Employees who are potentially exposed to a communicable disease while in the line of duty, shall document the exposure as if it were an _____.

Answer 1

1) reasonably foreseen

2) on-the-job injury

Question 2

Body fluids.

Answer 2

Any liquid secretions that can be found in a human or animal body including, but not limited to, blood, semen, vaginal discharge, saliva, urine, feces, tears, nasal discharge, sputum, vomitus, or breast milk.

Question 3

Communicable Disease.

Answer 3

An illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic product that arises through transmission of that agent or its product from an infected person or animal to a susceptible person, either directly or indirectly, through an intermediate host (e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] or Hepatitis B Virus [HBV]).

Some common communicable diseases can be prevented by vaccinations (e.g., Measles, Tetanus, and Hepatitis B Virus).

Question 4

Exposure.

Answer 4

Confirmed contact with an infectious agent, such as through inhalation, percutaneous inoculation (puncture or cut by a sharp object), or contact with an open wound, non-intact skin, or mucous membrane.

Question 5

Medical Waste.

Answer 5

Items to be disposed of that have been contaminated with body fluids or
human or animal tissue, or any biological item requiring special handling precautions.

Question 6

Reportable Disease.

Answer 6

Communicable diseases and health conditions required to be reported to
Texas Department of State Health Services in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 81.041, as may be amended.

Question 7

Tuberculosis (TB).

Answer 7

A communicable disease that is caused by slow growing bacteria that are spread in airborne droplets.

General symptoms of active TB include lethargy, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, night sweats, chronic coughing, chest pain, or coughing up blood.

Question 8

SUPPLIES

All department vehicles (undercover vehicles may be exempt) shall be continuously stocked with all communicable disease control supplies for the communicable disease kit. All communicable disease kits and replacement supplies shall be made available through the department’s Uniform Supply.
All divisional vehicle coordinators are responsible for the dissemination and replacement of the below items, which are part of the communicable disease kit.

a.
Protective _____

b.
Disposable _____

c.
______resistant container

d.
_____ waste bags

e.
Barrier _____equipment

f.
Goggles

g.
Disposable _____

h.
Disposable disinfectant _____

i.
_____bandages

j.
Protective _____

k.
_____labels

I.
Body ____

Answer 8

a.
Protective body gowns

b.
Disposable gloves

c.
Puncture resistant container

d.
Red sealable biohazard waste bags

e.
Barrier resuscitation equipment

f.
Goggles

g.
Disposable face masks

h.
Disposable disinfectant towelettes

i.
Waterproof bandages

j.
Protective shoe covers

k.
Biohazard labels

I.
Body sheets

Question 9

PROCEDURES

Communicable Disease Prevention

In order to minimize potential exposure to communicable diseases, employees shall assume that all persons and animals are potential carriers of a communicable disease and employees shall take the following precautions:

a.
Disposable latex or nitrile gloves should be worn by employees when handling any…

Employees should wear fresh, new, disposable latex or nitrile gloves if it is necessary to…

The gloves should be changed for…

Employees should be aware that rings, jewelry, and fingernails may compromise the structural integrity of disposable gloves.

Employees should inspect gloves before and during each use to ensure the gloves have not been torn or compromised.

Answer 9

1) wounded persons or animals or their clothing, or any items contaminated with body fluids.
2) place fingers in or near any person’s or animal’s mouth
3) each person or animal contacted.

Question 10

PROCEDURES

Communicable Disease Prevention

In order to minimize potential exposure to communicable diseases, employees shall assume that all persons and animals are potential carriers of a communicable disease and employees shall take the following precautions:

b.
A face mask, protective eyewear, and protective clothing should be worn when…

Answer 10

there is a potential for splashing of any body fluids.

Question 11

PROCEDURES

Communicable Disease Prevention

In order to minimize potential exposure to communicable diseases, employees shall assume that all persons and animals are potential carriers of a communicable disease and employees shall take the following precautions:

c.
A face mask should be worn when the employee is near a coughing person suspected of having an active case of _____

Answer 11

tuberculosis (TB).

Question 12

PROCEDURES

Communicable Disease Prevention

In order to minimize potential exposure to communicable diseases, employees shall assume that all persons and animals are potential carriers of a communicable disease and employees shall take the following precautions:

d.
A plastic mouth piece barrier resuscitation device should be used whenever an employee must perform….

Answer 12

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Question 13

PROCEDURES

Communicable Disease Prevention

In order to minimize potential exposure to communicable diseases, employees shall assume that all persons and animals are potential carriers of a communicable disease and employees shall take the following precautions:

e.
All sharp instruments, such as knives and needles that are collected for evidentiary or disposal purposes, should be handled with extraordinary care and placed in a…

Employees should use caution when placing their hands in areas where sharp instruments might be hidden.

An initial visual search of the area should be conducted.

Needles should not be recapped, bent, broken, or removed from a disposable syringe, or otherwise manipulated by hand. Needles and syringes may contain _____.

As such, the container shall be marked with a biohazard label to identify potential or known communicable disease contamination and delivered to the _____ for further processing.

Answer 13

1) puncture resistant container with a biohazard label on the outside of the container.
2) narcotic evidence
3) HPD Narcotics Operations Control Center (NOCC)

Question 14

PROCEDURES

Communicable Disease Prevention

In order to minimize potential exposure to communicable diseases, employees shall assume that all persons and animals are potential carriers of a communicable disease and employees shall take the following precautions:

f.
Employees should not smoke, eat, drink, apply cosmetics or lip balm, or handle contact lenses around…

Answer 14

blood or body fluid spills

Question 15

PROCEDURES

Communicable Disease Prevention

In order to minimize potential exposure to communicable diseases, employees shall assume that all persons and animals are potential carriers of a communicable disease and employees shall take the following precautions:

g.
Any evidence unrelated to narcotic investigations that is not a sharp instrument and is contaminated or reasonably believed to be contaminated with body fluids shall be…

The bags shall be marked to…

The evidence shall then be delivered to the Property Division. See General Order 700-01, Property/Evidence Control Regulations, for additional information on disposition of evidentiary material.

Answer 15

1) placed and transported in bags that prevent leakage

2) identify potential or known communicable disease contamination.

Question 16

PROCEDURES

Transport and Custody

a.
Employees who have been properly equipped and trained shall not refuse to physically handle or administer first aid measures to any person just because…

Answer 16

that person may have a communicable disease.

Question 17

PROCEDURES

Transport and Custody

b.
Individuals who are contaminated with body fluids or coughing uncontrollably shall be transported in…

Answer 17

separate vehicles from other individuals.

Question 18

PROCEDURES

Transport and Custody

c.
Employees have an obligation to notify relevant support personnel during a transfer of custody when the suspects have _____ or _____

Answer 18

1) body fluids present on their person

2) have stated they have a communicable disease.

Question 19

PROCEDURES

Transport and Custody

d.
Officers who are booking a prisoner into a City jail or police station lockup facility are responsible for notifying the medical personnel and jail attendants about any…

Answer 19

prisoner who is contaminated with body fluids

Question 20

PROCEDURES

Transport and Custody

e.
Employees shall indicate on the arrest forms when suspects taken into custody have…

Answer 20

body fluids present on their person or state they have a communicable disease; for example, “Suspect states… “

Question 21

PROCEDURES

Transport and Custody

f.
Prisoners with active TB should be encouraged to…

Precautions should be taken when in close contact indoors or in a patrol vehicle with a coughing person suspected of having _____. Employees should ask the person to contain his or her cough in a handkerchief or cloth to reduce the number of airborne particles being spread.

Employees should _____ to dilute the airborne particles.

Answer 21

1) wear disposable face masks while being transported.
2) TB
3) open the vehicle window

Question 22

PROCEDURES

Disinfection

a.
Any employee’s unprotected skin surface that comes into contact with another person’s or animal’s body fluids shall be immediately and thoroughly washed with…

Alcohol, hand sanitizer, or antiseptic towelettes should be used when…

Using a disinfection solution including one part household bleach and ten parts
water or a commercially available disinfecting cleaning solution is _____

Protective disposable gloves should be worn during all phases of disinfection.

Disposable gloves should then be removed from inside out. The hands and forearms should then be washed.

Following disinfection any open cuts and abrasions should be covered with _____.

Hand lotion may also be applied after disinfection.

Answer 22

1) warm running water and soap for at least fifteen seconds before rinsing and drying.
2) soap and water are unavailable.
3) also recommended.
4) waterproof bandages

Question 23

PROCEDURES

Disinfection

b.
Employees should remove their clothing that has been contaminated with body fluids as soon as _____.

Any contacted skin area should then be _____.

Contaminated clothing should be bagged carefully and laundered in the normal
fashion, but…

Answer 23

1) practical
2) disinfected in the prescribed fashion
3) separated from family clothes

Question 24

PROCEDURES

Disinfection

c.
_____ are responsible for the proper cleaning of the vehicle interior whenever an individual contaminated with body fluids has been transported.

Answer 24

Transporting personnel

Question 25

PROCEDURES

Disinfection

d.
Disposable latex or nitrile gloves and other protective covering should always be worn when _____.

All body fluids must be thoroughly cleaned from surfaces or objects. Contaminated materials should be placed in biohazard waste bags while in the field and disposed in a _____.

Answer 25

1) handling blood products

2) designated biohazard waste container

Question 26

PROCEDURES

Disposal of Biohazard Waste

Non-evidentiary materials shall be disposed of as follows:

a.
Sharp items such as needles shall be placed in a _____ container.

Glass items shall be disposed of in containers marked _____

Answer 26

1) “SHARPS” (puncture resistant)

2) “GLASS.”

Question 27

PROCEDURES

Disposal of Biohazard Waste

Non-evidentiary materials shall be disposed of as follows:

b.
All HPD police stations, City jails, and Police Headquarters shall serve as biohazard storage sites for biohazard waste, sharps, and glass. Biohazard waste bags shall be…

Answer 27

made available at each of these sites

Question 28

PROCEDURES

Disposal of Biohazard Waste

Non-evidentiary materials shall be disposed of as follows:

c.
Biohazard storage sites shall be issued containers with lids for the disposal of biohazard waste.

The containers shall be labeled with a biohazard symbol and lettering specifying
BIOHAZARD. The containers shall be marked…

Answer 28

GLASS, SHARPS, or NONSHARPS

Question 29

PROCEDURES

Disposal of Biohazard Waste

Non-evidentiary materials shall be disposed of as follows:

d.
A medical waste disposal company will transport and dispose of the waste according to…

Employees shall call the _____to arrange transport and disposal of all biohazard materials.

Answer 29

1) Texas Department of State Health Services guidelines

2) General Services Department

Question 30

PROCEDURES

Disposal of Biohazard Waste

Non-evidentiary materials shall be disposed of as follows:

e.
Non-contaminated waste shall be disposed of…

Answer 30

in the regular station trash

Question 31

EXPOSURES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Employees who are potentially exposed to a communicable disease (e.g., employee is bitten by a person or animal, employee has open skin and comes into physical contact with another person’s or animal’s body fluids) while in uniform, on duty, or working approved extra employment shall…

The nature of the exposure should be placed in the incident report.

Answer 31

document the exposure as if it were an on-the-job injury, even if it is not immediately evident that it is an “injury” (e.g., contamination of an open wound by a suspect’s blood).

Question 32

EXPOSURES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

The employee shall _____ and advise of the exposure.

The supervisor shall evaluate the injury and complete the _____ and the ____

Both forms are located on the department’s Intranet Portal.

Additionally, the employee and supervisor shall follow injury and exposure procedures in accordance with General Orders 200-10, Emergency Management and 300-05, Workers’ Compensation.

Answer 32

1) contact a supervisor
2) City of Houston Accident Report form
3) COH On the Job Injury Reference Sheet.

Question 33

EXPOSURES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

The employee shall go to a hospital emergency room or urgent care facility to…

No employee may be forced to submit to a blood test as a result of reporting an exposure; however, workers’ compensation requires any employee claiming exposure to submit to a baseline blood test within _____ days following the exposure.

Answer 33

1) receive protective treatment at the earliest possible time.
2) ten calendar

Question 34

EXPOSURES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

An employee with a potential exposure shall notify the department’s Health and Safety Unit (HSU) of the potential exposure within ____hours following the incident.

Personnel with Houston Health Department (HHD) Bureau of Epidemiology, in cooperation with the HSU, will evaluate each situation and determine if in their judgment the incident qualifies as an _____.

HHD Bureau of Epidemiology will notify the HSU if they determine the incident _____.

Answer 34

1) 24
2) exposure
3) constitutes an exposure

Question 35

EXPOSURES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

After documenting the potential exposure as if it were an on-the-job injury, an employee with a potential exposure shall fax all injured on duty (IOD) paperwork, including a notarized Affidavit of Exposure to a Communicable Disease form, to the _____.

The Affidavit of Exposure to a Communicable Disease form is located on the department’s Intranet Portal.

The HSU shall serve as the _____ the HHD Bureau of Epidemiology and the employee.

Answer 35

1) HSU within 24 hours

2) liaison between

Question 36

EXPOSURES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

If the employee may have been exposed to a communicable disease during the course of delivering pre-hospital care to a suspect or other citizen who is transported to a hospital, the employee should follow the procedures above and…

Notification is done by completing a _____ form, which should be provided by the hospital.

Employees shall leave the completed form at the _____

Answer 36

1) notify the receiving hospital that a possible exposure has occurred.
2) Report of Possible Exposure of Transporter
3) receiving hospital.

Question 37

EXPOSURES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

The hospital is not under any obligation to test a subject for_____

The hospital is obligated to notify HHD Bureau of Epidemiology when the hospital has knowledge that the subject was…

Answer 37

1) communicable diseases.

2) infected with a communicable disease at the time of admittance.

Question 38

EXPOSURES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

HHD Bureau of Epidemiology will contact the ____when results are received from the hospital.

HSU shall contact the employee and advise him or her to contact HHD Bureau of Epidemiology for the _____, as well as provide control measures and information on testing, if needed.

All results are confidential and only personnel with a legitimate need to know shall be informed of the results.

Criminal charges may be sought against any person who intentionally acts to…

Answer 38

1) HSU
2) results
3) expose an employee to a communicable disease.

Question 39

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

To request mandatory testing of the source of a potential exposure to a communicable disease, an employee shall complete an _____ outlining the circumstances surrounding the potential exposure and detailing the nature of the potential exposure (e.g., bitten by a suspect whose saliva was contaminated with blood, pricked with a needle taken from a known drug user, exposed to a person coughing or suspected of having an active case of TB).

Answer 39

Affidavit of Exposure to a Communicable Disease form

Question 40

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

The Affidavit of Exposure to a Communicable Disease form shall be written in the _____ and shall include a _____ by specifying the body part(s) that may have been exposed and how that exposure occurred.

Failure to complete the affidavit correctly will result in a delay in determination of exposure, which can result in a delay in testing of the source.

Answer 40

1) first person and notarized

2) detailed description of the exposure

Question 41

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

The _____shall fax the affidavit to the HHD Bureau of Epidemiology and immediately confirm receipt by calling the HHD Bureau of Epidemiology, which is staffed 24 hours a day.

The HSU will then be provided with a _____, which shall be relayed to the concerned employee, employee’s supervisor, or employee’s IOD divisional liaison as soon as practicable by either telephone or email.

Answer 41

1) HSU

2) reference number

Question 42

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

Prior to mandatory testing of a source in accordance with Section 81.050 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, there must be a determination of potential exposure that is supported by the _____.

This determination will be made by the _____, who will then notify the HSU.

The HHD Bureau of Epidemiology coordinates the testing of the source utilizing the Harris County District Attorney’s Victims Services Unit for assistance if…

Answer 42

1) aforementioned signed and sworn affidavit
2) Chief Physician at the HHD Bureau of Epidemiology
3) a court order is required.

Question 43

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

If the source agrees to be tested, the HHD Bureau of Epidemiology will arrange for the person to be….

If the source is in the county jail, a _____ who works for the county will cooperate with the HHD Bureau of Epidemiology in the drawing and testing of blood.

If the source refuses to be tested, the _____ will ask for a court order from the District Attorney’s Office requesting mandatory testing of the source.

Answer 43

1) counseled and tested
2) disease intervention specialist
3) HHD Bureau of Epidemiology

Question 44

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

The _____may request mandatory testing of the source regardless of the decision of the HSU and the HHD Bureau of Epidemiology.

A prosecuting attorney who represents the state in district court can…

Answer 44

1) employee

2) request a hearing on the order.

Question 45

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

According to the Texas Health and Safety Code, if the court finds there was not reasonable cause for the employee to have requested the test, the court may…

If the court upholds the order and requires the source to submit to the test, the _____ shall be notified about the decision and they will take appropriate measures.

Answer 45

1) assess the court cost against the employee who made the request.
2) HHD Bureau of Epidemiology

Question 46

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

Once testing has been completed, the HHD Bureau of Epidemiology will contact the HSU and give the name of the employee and the name and telephone number of the health authority who will…

Results of the test will be released to the employee by telephone followed by a letter within ____ days.

Post-test counseling will be given by the health authority according to the…

Answer 46

1) instruct the employee on the test results and control measures.
2) three business
3) circumstances and the results of the tests

Question 47

REQUESTING MANDATORY TESTING OF THE SOURCE

The results of the tests shall be kept confidential and only personnel with a legitimate need to know shall be allowed access to test results.

Legitimate need to know will be determined by the ____.

Answer 47

health authority

Question 48

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Employees who test positive for a communicable disease may continue working as long as they perform the essential functions of the job, maintain acceptable performance, and do not…

The department shall make all decisions concerning the employee’s work status solely on the medical opinions and advice of the…

Answer 48

1) pose a safety and health threat to themselves, the public, other employees, or the department
2) City of Houston’s health care officials.

Question 49

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The department may require an employee to be examined by the City of Houston’s health care officials to determine if the employee is able to…

Answer 49

perform duties without hazard to the employee or others.

Question 50

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Communicable diseases that are not blood borne (for example, TB or measles) shall be _____ on an individual basis depending on the circumstances of the exposure.

Special recommendations shall then be given to the employee involved.

If employees have any questions regarding communicable disease, they may contact the_____

Answer 50

1) assessed by the health authority

2) department’s Health and Safety Unit.

Question 51

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Workers’ Compensation

An employee will not be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for a work-related exposure to a reportable disease unless the employee provides the employer (City of Houston) both of the following:

a.
The employee’s sworn affidavit of the date and…

b.
A copy of the results of the employee’s test taken within ____ days after the exposure and indicating the absence of the reportable disease. Exposure criteria and testing protocol must conform to Texas Department of Health requirements.

Answer 51

1) circumstances of the exposure.

2) ten calendar