In some job sectors, like healthcare personnel, long-term care facility workers, lab technicians, and other occupations that feature employees getting up close and personal with other people who may be in poor health, you may find that the risk of catching infectious illnesses is much higher.
These high-risk jobs need to offer the proper counseling and procedures that aid employees in making intelligent decisions to prevent and stop the spread of harmful illnesses and diseases. Employers can significantly reduce the risk of employee infection and a potential outbreak if they provide their employees with extensive education regarding infectious diseases.
Let’s see how learning about the spread and contraction of disease can help employees in specific job sectors remain safe and healthy.
What is bloodborne pathogens training?
First, we need to know what bloodborne pathogens are. This type of disease refers to infectious microorganisms in blood or bodily fluids that can cause disease in humans. Today’s most common types of bloodborne pathogens are hepatitis B, hepatitis B, and HIV, with all three of these diseases now having vaccines and medications to treat or cure the illness.
Injuries that are common in certain healthcare settings involve needlesticks and sharp instrument-related injuries. Some sectors that need to be aware of these risks include housekeeping workers, nurses, healthcare personnel, EMTs, and lab technicians.
Employees who are frequently around sharp objects, sick people, people with specific disabilities (physical or psychological), or work closely with samples or bodily fluids (such as lab workers or nurses) are most susceptible to being infected while on the job.
Employers need to provide bloodborne pathogens training either online or in-person by using a credible and reputable organization. Employers should use the OSHA course or Red Cross course to get a comprehensive education program covering aspects like hazard recognition, standard practices, evaluating and treating exposure, and the steps after becoming infected.
How to control bloodborne pathogens?
Learning about bloodborne pathogens training can help employees reduce the spread and infection of bloodborne pathogens at work. To decline or completely eliminate the potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens, employers need to work with their employees to provide proper training and extensive knowledge regarding the dangers of working at their job.
Employers need to put together a plan that involves how they will offer work practice controls, provide personal protective equipment, fund employee training, including medical surveillance, and pay for vaccines for the most common bloodborne pathogens.
Employees in specific job sectors need to be more aware than others since they are in high-risk settings with dangers that can severely influence the health and safety of their workers. These employers include hospitals, long-term care facilities, prisons, EMTs, surgeons, nurses, housekeeping personnel, and laboratory workers.
Conclusion
Protecting your employees from potential dangers, such as needlesticks or sharp instrument-related injuries, can ensure the risk of spreading bloodborne pathogens is significantly reduced. Providing employees with bloodborne pathogens training is a crucial step in helping prevent or completely eliminate the spread of infectious disease in your workplace by educating your workers and providing safety techniques.
