Policy Text
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Page 1 of 9 10/06 (REV 10/02)
MJ/RCCC
BLOOD AND BODY FLUID EXPOSURE
Purpose
The purpose of this Order is to d efine the Main Jail policy and
procedures for the prevention of e xposure to any substance capa ble
of transmittin g communicable disease.
Policy
This policy is intended to encour age the practice of protective
measures for all employees to min imize exposure to blood, body
fluids, or any substance capable of transmitting a communicable
disease while in the course of dut y.
In This Order
The followin g table will identif y the to pics discussed in this Order.
Topic See Pa ge
Prevention 1,2,3,4
Decontamination 4,5
Testin g 5,6,7
Reportin g 7 , 8
Post-Ex posure Mana gement 9
Prevention
Procedures
History and physical examinatio ns cannot reliably identify all persons
infected with a communicable di sease or other blood borne
pathogen; therefore, universal pre cautions shall be consistentl y used
for all contacts with inmates.
Precautions shall be practiced by all persons to protect themse lves
against possible contact with a co mmunicable disease. Exposure s
are unpredictable and protective m easures should be used in
situations that ma y appear to present risk.
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Page 2 of 9 10/06 (REV 09/02)
MJ/RCCC
The followin g precautionar y measures shall be followed:
Step Action
1.
Disposable gloves shall be used whenever the possibility of
contact with bod y fluids is present.
2.
Employees responding to emergency situations shall
practice universal precautions including the application of
gloves before an y treatment is administered.
3.
Department policies regarding se arches shall be followed to
minimize contact with body fluids, cuts or punctures by
sharp objects.
4.
Sharp objects shall be secu red in marked, puncture
resistant containers.
5.
Any material contaminated by body fluids (except for sharp
objects) shall be placed in bags marked and identified as
"Contaminated Waste."
Contaminated waste shall not be placed with, or
disposed with, regular w aste not identified as
contaminated.
6.
In the event an employee co mes into contact with body
fluid, the affected area s hall be washed with soap and
water as soon as possible.
If water is not availabl e, use an alcohol-based
product, (i.e., Hibistat) unt il water is available.
Hibistat is available throughout the facility.
Mucous membranes shall be rinsed with luke-warm
water as soon as possible.
7.
American Red Cross pocket m asks (a portable rescue-
breathing device used as a p rotective barrier between a
subject and an employee) equi pped with one-way valves
shall be used when performi ng rescue breathing or
Cardio pulmonar y Resuscitation (C.P.R. ).
8.
Disposable facial surgical masks shall be worn by an
inmate when outside of a respi ratory isolation cell, if the
inmate is considered by the me dical staff to be capable of
transmitting tuberculosis (T.B.).
If the inmate cannot or will not wear a mask, an N-
95 Respirator Mask will be worn by personnel in the
immediate vicinit y of the inmate.
9.
The nursing staff shall inform any transporting officer of any
blood, body fluid, and respirat ory precautions that needs to
be followed before an inmate is transported out of the
facility, or if close proximi ty contact is expected with an
inmate with a communicable disease.
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Page 3 of 9 10/06 (REV 09/02)
MJ/RCCC
Safety
Equipment
The following equipment will be prov ided to employees in order to
minimize contact with blood or body fluids:
Disposable vinyl or latex glove s shall be made available and
will be placed in areas easily accessible to employees.
Puncture resistant containers s hall be provided for disposal o f
sharp objects.
Resuscitation and other ventilati on devices are available in
the Intake Medical Testing Ar ea and the second floor medical
area. Pocket masks with one-way- valves shall be available
at work sites throu ghout the facilit y.
Disposable gloves shall be carried by employees and shall be wo rn
whenever an employee anticipates a physical confrontation, cont act
with a body fluid, or anytime an employee has open cuts or non-
intact skin on the hands.
The following precautionary meas ures shall be followed when usi ng
disposable gloves:
Employees shall be cautioned not to touch personal items or
their face while wearing gloves.
To prevent skin irritations, g loves should not be worn for
extended periods of time.
Disposable gloves shall be c hanged after each contact then
disposed of. If contact with blood or body fluids was made,
the gloves shall be disposed of in a marked contaminated
waste container.
Employees shall remove gloves by pulling them off inside-out,
preventing contamination, t hen washing hands thoroughly
with soa p and water after removal.
Searches
Employees shall use great care w hen conducting searches of any
kind and evaluate each sit uation to ensure safet y.
The following precaution