Exposure and blood borne pathogens in the workplace

Exposures to blood-borne pathogens (BBP) in construction have continued to increase in recent years, and OSHA issued It’s Blood borne Pathogen Standard 29CFR 1910.1030 to protect workers from diseases associated with these infectious microorganisms. These can include but are not limited to:

• Hepatitis B (HBV)
• Hepatitis C (HCV)
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

 

One of the most effective ways to protect employees in the event of an incident leading to exposure, is to have a Blood Borne Pathogen Kit. These kits include essentials such as:

• Personal Protective Apparel
• Spill Clean-Up Provisions in Compliance with OSHA Standard 1090.1030
• Weatherproof Outer Shell to Properly Protect Contents

OSHA definition of occupational exposure:

 “Reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other

potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties.”

 

 

What to do if someone has a significant exposure to infected b (HIV/Hep) and the protocols for administering anti-viral?

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that Post Exposure Prophylaxis or PEP is a way to prevent HIV infection after a possible recent occupational exposure. It involves taking HIV medications as soon as possible within 3 days after a single high risk event to stop HIV from making copies of itself and spreading throughout human body. The sooner, the better; every hour counts.

https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000085/p0000085.asp

 

 

What to do if workers exposed to the blood?

• Report all exposures promptly to ensure that you receive appropriate follow up care.
• Flush splashes to nose, mouth, or skin with water.
• Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water.
• Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile wash.

 

 

Prevention of Exposure.

• Employers must establish and educate workers about an exposure control program
• Determination and use of engineering controls, which includes containers and self-sheathing needles for safely disposing blood-borne pathogen hazards from the workplace.
• Observation of work practice controls.
• Provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).

 

 

Make sure the company you work for is prepared in the event of an emergency. For more information on blood-borne pathogens, see OSHA's website at:

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html

 

 

 

By: Liz Tadsse

When are employers required to provide hearing exams?

The OSHA Hearing Conservation Program requires employers to monitor hearing for all employees whose noise exposure levels over 8 working hours average out to be at or above 85 decibels. 

OSHA rule on hearing loss:

• The occupational safety and health administration issued a final rule on July 1, 2002 that revised the criteria for recording work-related hearing loss.
• Beginning Jan. 1, 2003, employers will be required to record work-related hearing loss cases when an employee's hearing test shows a marked decrease in overall hearing. For more information please see the links at the bottom of this article.

Why it may be beneficial to provide hearing exams for employees?

• The employee would be able to communicate effectively with managers, supervisors, and co-workers without any hearing difficulties.
• Awareness that hearing impaired workers may have special needs to protect their hearing
• To prevent hearing loss.
• Referral for further evaluation as appropriate.
• The earlier you know about hearing loss, the sooner you can get medical help.
• Exposure to dangerous noise levels can cause permanent hearing loss and other health problems.
• Improve productivities.
• For the purpose of employee safety and effectiveness.
• Decrease the accident rate in work place.

The results of not testing hearing loss:

• Decreased Wellness
• Poor monitoring function
• Increase hearing loss
• Workers compensation


For more information click one of this links and you should be able to get all the information you needed.
https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/qa_deafness.cfm#_edn19).
https://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib122705.html
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3074/osha3074.html
http://www.hearingtestlabs.com/osha.htm

By: Liz Tadsse, Loss Control Representative

Minnesota LTAP Sign Maintenance/Management and Sign Retroreflectivity Training

Minnesota LTAP is putting on this training on sign management. It will include a brief overview of sign retroreflectivity assessment and management methods, as well as guidance for developing a sign inventory and understanding how much of an impact a sign post can withstand. For more information or to register go to the MNLTAP website(http://mnltap.umn.edu/training/topic/traffic/retroreflectivity/index.html).

 

DATES AND LOCATION

The workshop is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) at the specified location on each of the dates listed below.

• October 11, 2016 — Alexandria, MN
• October 18, 2016 — Brainerd, MN
• October 25, 2016 — Rochester, MN

REGISTRATION

• Register online
• Register by mail or fax: Download the registration form (864 KB PDF)
• Registration contact: College of Continuing Education, cceinfo@umn.edu, 612-625-2900
• Cost:

• $60 – Township and tribal representatives
• $70 – City, county, state, and federal representatives
• $150 – All others

 

TOPICS COVERED

• How federal sign retroreflectivity regulations apply to you
• Various methods to meet these regulations
• Crashworthiness of sign posts
• Conducting various assessment and management methods on your own signs with confidence
• How to decide which method is best suited for you and your agency

By: LMCIT Loss Control

Free Webinar—Partnering for Successful Downtown Street Reconstruction Projects

You see it in your work every day: the infrastructure in our cities is aging. From streets to water and sewer to utilities, these services are crucial to residents—but maintenance and repairs can be very complex and expensive. So what is a city to do?

We have some ideas for practices and tools that can help you successfully complete these important upgrades! Join us for a free online briefing from 1-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28. You’ll hear firsthand how one Minnesota community recently formed effective partnerships (with MnDOT and others) to complete a downtown street reconstruction project.

They will share the benefits of this project to their community, as well as the lessons they learned. You’ll also hear about options to finance these kind of upgrades and determine whether a study could help pinpoint your city’s specific needs.

To learn more and register for this free webinar, visit www.lmc.org/streetswebinar16blog

 

By: League of Minnesota Cities

Minnesota LTAP Fall Maintenance Expo

The Fall Maintenance Expo is a two day event for city, county, and state maintenance employees and supervisors focused on fall and winter transportation maintenance issues. The Event includes vendors and presenters showing new equipment and sharing useful information, as well as the annual snowplow “Roadeo”.

The Expo costs $25 and is at the St. Cloud Public Works Facility on October 5-6. Attendees are eligible for 1.0 elective credit for the Roads Scholar Program.

For more information, or to register go to the LTAP website

http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/training/fallexpo/index.html

Or the Fall Maintenance Expo Website:

http://www.mnfallexpo.com/

By: LMCIT Loss Control

Falls to a Lower Level

Slips, trips, and falls are consistently one of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ top rated causes of workplace injury across the country. Recently MN OSHA’s Brian Zaidman published an article in the July Issue of their Safety Lines Newsletter (page 7) outlining the statistics for “falls to a lower level”.

Due to the nature of the reporting, the numbers being used are from 2014, but they show that falls to a lower level are on the rise. That means it’s time to review best practices for working from heights with everyone in your shop. Maybe list all the tasks you perform that would require someone to work from an elevated height. Some of the key safety requirements to remember when it comes to fall protection are:

·       Fall protection is required for all heights at or above 4ft from the ground. This doesn’t seem very high, but if you fall the wrong way from this height, it is still enough to break a bone or cause a serious injury.

·       Fall Protection is required when working around unprotected edges of open sided floor,  platforms, and runways greater than 4 feet above the floor or lower level.

·       Fall protection is required along the side of dangerous hazards such as vats, tanks, and dangerous equipment or similar hazard regardless of height where a worker could fall in to the hazard.

 

Another interesting breakdown from the article is the occupational groups with the highest estimated rate of injury from falls to a lower level. As you can see in Figure 3 from the article, the highest rates belong to workers who are performing: construction and extraction; transportation and material moving; and installation, maintenance and repair. These are all things where public works’ employees may find themselves involved, so be extra cautious and make sure you are being safe while working from heights.

 

If you have any questions regarding working from heights, or need assistance in finding a way to do so safely, feel free to give your Loss Control Consultant a call - they will be happy to help!

By: Cody Tuttle, Loss Control Representative

 

Preventing Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs)

Recreational water facilities (pools, spas, splash pads, etc.) in several cities in the southern part of the state, as well as some in northern Iowa, have recently been closed following the discovery of Cryptosporidiosis (Crypto), a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has put together some information on things the public can do to prevent the spread of Crypto, as well as other RWIs: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/waterborne/prevention/recreational.html

Tips for all swimmers:

·         Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea.

·         Wash hands with soap and water after going to the restroom.

·         Shower before you get in the water.

·         Don’t swallow the water.

 

Additional Tips for parents with young children:

·         Take children on frequent bathroom breaks when swimming – waiting to hear “I have to go” may mean that it’s already too late!

·         Change diapers in changing rooms, not poolside or on the beach. Wash your hands and the child’s hands after changing diapers.

MDH has also put together a quick fact sheet for recreational water employees and what they can do to prevent contamination of Crypto and other RWIs: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/waterborne/prevention/recstafffs.html

If you discover the presence of Crypto, or any other RWI, at your facility, close it and contact the Minnesota Department of Health immediately. Patron complaints of illness may also be reported to the MDH Foodborne and Waterborne Illness Hotline at 1-877-366-3455, and MDH will contact the appropriate health department for follow-up.

 

By: LMCIT Loss Control