Occupational Exposure Medical Definition

Definitions. For the purposes of this section, assistant secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health or a designated official. Blood refers to human blood, human blood components and products derived from human blood. Bloodborne pathogens are pathogenic microorganisms found in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Clinical laboratory A workplace where diagnostic or other screening procedures are performed on blood or other potentially infectious material. Contaminated means the presence or reasonably expected presence of blood or other potentially infectious material on an object or surface. Contaminated laundry is laundry that has been soiled with blood or other potentially infectious material or may contain sharp objects. Contaminated sharps are all contaminated objects that can penetrate the skin, including, but not limited to, needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, and exposed ends of dental floss. Decontamination refers to the use of physical or chemical means to eliminate, inactivate or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or object to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or object is made safe for handling, use or disposal. Director means the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services or a designated representative. Engineering controls are controls (e.g., disposal containers for sharps, self-coated needles, safer medical devices such as sharps and sharps with injury protection for sharps and needles) that isolate or eliminate the risk of blood-borne pathogens from the workplace. Exposure incident means an eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious material resulting from the performance of an employee`s duties. Handwashing facilities are facilities that provide an adequate supply of running drinking water, soap and disposable towels or air dryers. An authorized health professional is a person whose legally authorized field of activity allows the person to independently carry out the activities required by paragraph (f) of hepatitis B vaccination and post-exposure assessment and follow-up. HBV stands for hepatitis B virus. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. Needle-free systems are a device that does not use needles to: (1) collect body fluids or remove body fluids after an initial venous or arterial access; (2) the administration of medications or liquids; or (3) any other method involving the possibility of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens due to percutaneous injuries caused by contaminated sharps. Occupational exposure is defined as reasonably foreseeable contact of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes or parenterality with blood or other potentially infectious material that may result from the performance of an employee`s duties.

Other potentially infectious material (1) The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva during dental procedures, any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to distinguish body fluids; (2) Any tissue or non-fixed organ (other than intact skin) of a human being (living or dead); and (3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and culture media containing HIV or HBV or other solutions; and blood, organs or other tissues of laboratory animals infected with HIV or HBV. Parenteral means piercing the mucous membranes or skin barrier through events such as needle sticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions. Personal protective equipment is special clothing or equipment worn by an employee to protect against a hazard. General work clothing (for example, uniforms, pants, shirts or blouses) that are not intended to protect against a hazard are not considered personal protective equipment. Production facility means a facility that produces HIV or HBV on a large scale in large quantities or in high concentrations. Regulated wastes: liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious material; contaminated objects that would release blood or other potentially infectious substances in liquid or semi-liquid form if compressed; articles encrusted with dried blood or other potentially infectious material that may release these materials during handling; contaminated sharps and sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious substances.