This recent question sparked quite a discussion on the JANITOR listserv at JANITORS@raven.cc.ku.edu. Many of the participants were school or university housekeeping managers who have environmental or safety departments that could share the duty. But many of those respondents said they still clean up most bodily spills, consulting with or deferring to environmental health staff if they encounter large spills.

Considering that bloodborne pathogen (BBP) exposure is one of the top five most violated safety rules in the cleaning industry, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) inspection data, housekeeping managers need to be very clear as to who can clean up bodily fluids.

Most housekeeping departments in many facilities may not have another department that can handle bodily fluid spills — they are the most likely candidates for clean-up. In those facilities, managers should train first-response members of their staff — people who are trained to handle health emergencies, administer first aid and clean up bodily fluid spills — and make sure there is someone on each shift with this capability. The other option is to train all cleaning staff to make sure anyone will be prepared to handle a potentially contaminated spill if they come across one.

When it comes to training in this area, it should involve hands-on practice to ensure workers know what to do. While OSHA doesn’t specify what type of individual can train workers in BBP safety, industry experts advise leaving this work to a trained nurse, industrial hygienist or similar professionals who have the necessary background to explain health hazards.

In a recent poll taken of U.S. universities, 87.5 percent of respondents had a bloodborne pathogen program in place. The poll, done by the University of Texas, reports that more than 82 percent of respondents said their janitors handled BBP spills, but only 47.5 percent said their custodians were vaccinated against the Hepatitis B (HBV) virus.

Many housekeeping managers may not know that they are required to offer free HBV vaccinations during work hours to those staff they choose as first responders to bodily fluid spills. Workers have a right to decline this vaccine, but they must sign a waiver stating their choice. (While there are many potential hazards involved with cleaning up bodily fluids, HBV is the only virus specifically mentioned in OSHA workplace regulations because it is very common and hardy. But it also has a vaccine that is considered 98 percent effective.)

Housekeeping managers also should train workers who are not authorized to clean BBP on how to recognize potential hazards, and how to contact the designated responders.

Departments that have workers who respond to bodily fluid spills also must have a written exposure-control plan, or they could be violating OSHA regulations and putting staff at risk.

This plan explains:

  • which employees are covered by BBP rules;
  • how they plan to keep non-trained employees safe from exposure;
  • equipment available for use in such situations;
  • engineering controls, which include items non-trained employees should avoid, such as sharps or biohazard waste containers;
  • work-practice controls, such as descriptions of how to handle cleaning up broken glass, carry trash bags away from bodies in case something sharp is poking out, and not to reach into trash bags at any time;
  • any other information unique to a worksite that could affect a worker’s potential risk of infection or BBP exposure.

For more information regarding which personnel are most qualified to handle BBP situations, contact the American Industrial Hygienist Association, or visit OSHA’s Web site.




POSTED ON: 8/1/2002