Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

Question 1

History of the bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 1

published in 1991; revised in 2001 following passage of Needlestick Safety & Prevention Act to include stronger requirements for employers to evaluate and adopt safer medical devices

Question 2

Purpose of the bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 2

to protect health-care workers from occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens

Question 3

primary requirements of bloodborne pathogens standards (11)

Answer 3

exposure control plan, universal precautions, engineering controls, work practice controls, personal protective clothing & equipment, housekeeping, training, medical surveillance, HBV, hazard communication, sharps injury log

Question 4

Exposure control plan for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 4

determination of employees’ risk of exposure and implementation of methods to control exposure. Plan must be reviewed and updated annually to reflect new technologies. Documentation of evaluation and adoption of safer devices is required. Non managerial employees must be involved in evaluation and selection of devices

Question 5

universal precautions for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 5

all blood and certain body fluids are to be handled as if known to be infectious for bloodborne pathogens

Question 6

engineering controls for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 6

control measures that isolate or remove a hazard from workplace

Question 7

examples of engineering controls for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 7

sharps containers, self-sheathing needles, plastic capillary tubes, Plexiglas shields

Question 8

work practice controls for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 8

handwashing, disposal of needles with safety device activated and holder attached, ban on eating/drinking/smoking in lab

Question 9

personal protective clothing and equipment for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 9

lab coats, gloves, face shields; employer must provide and launder lab coats

Question 10

housekeeping for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 10

proper disposal of biohazards waste, decontamination of work surfaces

Question 11

training for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 11

on assignment and annually thereafter

Question 12

medical surveillance for bloodborne pathogen standard

Answer 12

postexposure evaluation and follow-up at no cost to employee

Question 13

Hepatitis B vaccine for bloodborne pathogen standard

Answer 13

provided by employer within 10 days of assignment at no cost to employee

Question 14

hazard communication for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 14

biohazard labels, red bags

Question 15

sharps injury log for bloodborne pathogens standard

Answer 15

must include description and location of incident, device involved. Employee privacy must be protected

Question 16

Specimens that are potentially infectious (11)

Answer 16

blood, tissues, semen, vaginal secretions, CSF, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid, and saliva in dental procedures

Question 17

specimens that are usually not infectious unless visibly bloody (7)

Answer 17

feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, vomitus