Policy Text
Policy
1008Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/03/06, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentCommunicable Diseases - 1Communicable Diseases
1008.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides general guidelines to assist in minimizing the risk of department members
contracting and/or spreading communicable diseases.
1008.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
Communicable disease - A human disease caused by microorganisms that are present in
and transmissible through human blood, bodily fluid, tissue, or by breathing or coughing. These
diseases commonly include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV), HIV and tuberculosis.
Exposure - When an eye, mouth, mucous membrane or non-intact skin comes into contact with
blood or other potentially infectious materials, or when these substances are injected or infused
under the skin; when an individual is exposed to a person who has a disease that can be passed
through the air by talking, sneezing or coughing (e.g., tuberculosis), or the individual is in an area
that was occupied by such a person. Exposure only includes those instances that occur due to
a member’s position at the Garden Grove Police Department. (See the exposure control plan for
further details to assist in identifying whether an exposure has occurred.)
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus - The virus that destroys the body's ability to fight off deadly
diseases. HIV infection is believed to be lifelong. It is asymptomatic and there is no grace period
before progressing to ARC or AIDS.
ARC - AIDS-Related Complex - Involves symptoms that may be less severe than those of full-
blown AIDS and may not fit the appropriate diagnostic categories of AIDS. Symptoms of ARC could
be unexplained fever, night sweats, severe diarrhea, and dementia, a central nervous system
disorder.
AIDS - The condition of being infected with the HIV virus, may lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome), which is characterized by a collapse of the body's natural immunity against
disease. The person will be suffering from an immune system deficiency, and also have one or
more specific opportunistic diseases. Most of these diseases are very debilitating and only attack
persons with seriously comprised immune systems. The most common of these diseases are
pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and Kaposi's sarcoma cancer (KS). AIDS is usually fatal
within two years.
1008.2 POLICY
The Garden Grove Police Department is committed to providing a safe work environment for its
members. Members should be aware that they are ultimately responsible for their own health and
safety.
Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Communicable Diseases
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/03/06, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentCommunicable Diseases - 21008.3 EXPOSURE CONTROL OFFICER
The Chief of Police will assign a person as the Exposure Control Officer (ECO). The ECO shall
develop an exposure control plan that includes:
(a)Exposure-prevention and decontamination procedures.
(b)Procedures for when and how to obtain medical attention in the event of an exposure
or suspected exposure.
(c)The provision that department members will have no-cost access to the appropriate
personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., gloves, face masks, eye protection, pocket
masks) for each member's position and risk of exposure.
(d)Evaluation of persons in custody for any exposure risk and measures to separate them
(15 CCR 1051; 15 CCR 1207).
(e)Compliance with all relevant laws or regulations related to communicable diseases,
including:
1.Responding to requests and notifications regarding exposures covered under
the Ryan White law (42 USC § 300ff-133; 42 USC § 300ff-136).
2.Bloodborne pathogen mandates including (8 CCR 5193):
(a)Sharps injury log.
(b)Needleless systems and sharps injury protection.
3.Airborne transmissible disease mandates including (8 CCR 5199):
(a)Engineering and work practice controls related to airborne transmissible
diseases.
(b)Distribution of appropriate personal protective equipment to minimize
exposure to airborne disease.
4.Promptly notifying the county health officer regarding member exposures (Penal
Code § 7510).
5.Establishing procedures to ensure that members request exposure notification
from health facilities when transporting a person that may have a communicable
disease and that the member is notified of any exposure as required by Health
and Safety Code § 1797.188.
6.Informing members of the provisions of Health and Safety Code § 1797.188
(exposure to communicable diseases and notification).
(f)Provisions for acting as the designated officer liaison with health care facilities
regarding communicable disease or condition exposure notification. The designated
officer should coordinate with other department members to fulfill the role when not
available. The designated officer shall ensure that the name, title, and telephone
number of the designated officer is posted on the Department website (Health and
Safety Code § 1797.188).
Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Communicable Diseases
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/03/06, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentCommunicable Diseases - 3The ECO should also act as the liaison with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/
OSHA) and may request voluntary compliance inspections. The ECO shall annually review