Bloodborne pathogens training are essential for the people who work in clinics and hospitals as health workers. This includes doctors, nurses, and the staff members at these centers, particularly those who can come in close contact with human blood or blood-associated items. This is really very important because the blood they handle can contain infectious germs, virus, and other organisms that can spread quickly. With this bloodborne pathogens training, they will know precisely what to do to keep away from these infections and handle the blood safely.
OSHA And The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
An agency of the United States Department of Labor, the OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration came out with the standard for bloodborne pathogens. OSHA was created by the US Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and this act was signed in 1970 by the then US President Richard M. Nixon. The mission of the act was to prevent any illness, injury, or occupational fatality at the workplace by issuing and enforcing standards for workplace health and safety.
The federal regulations of OSHA cover the private sector workplaces. According to the regulations of OSHA, employees offering first aid and emergency care or those who handle body fluids and blood must receive biosafety training.
Bloodborne pathogens training aims to meet the guidelines, as set by the standard, by training the staff and health workers. Though the cost of such regulation and their enforcement might be on the higher side, the gains are incomparable, and much more than the cost. After all, human life is invaluable.
Why Protection Is Needed
Those who work at health centers often come in close contact with blood and blood-associated items. Human blood and body fluids may often be infected with a lot of germs and viruses. The people whose blood samples are taken for investigation are likely to have these germs because the physician suspects that those people might be infected. Therefore, the risk is higher for the people who draw such blood and test them. Bloodborne infections can cause some serious illnesses such as AIDS, Hepatitis B, and even Hepatitis C.
Many of these diseases can even be fatal. Therefore, it always makes sense to get bloodborne pathogens training and know what to do so that the possibly infected blood can be handled carefully. If done properly, the risk of contamination is almost zero.
Topics Covered In The Training
Bloodborne pathogens training cover important topics and train the health workers to identify at least two bloodborne pathogens. The training also includes identifying the mode of transmission of the pathogens and also the ways in which they are not transmitted. The health workers learn about the people who are at risk of exposure and the protective equipments. The training lists a minimum of three universal precautions.