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Bloodborne Pathogens

Policy

SUNY Potsdam is committed to provide a safe and healthful work environment for our entire staff. In pursuit of this endeavor, the following Exposure Control Plan (ECP) is provided to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in accordance with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1030.

The ECP is a key document to assist our college in implementing and ensuring compliance with the standard, thereby protecting our employees. This ECP includes:

  1. Employee exposure determination.
     
  2. The procedures for evaluating the circumstances surrounding an exposure incident, and
     
  3. The schedule and method of implementing the specific sections of the standard, including:
  • Methods of compliance
  • Hepatitis B vaccination and post-exposure follow-up
  • Training and communication of hazards to employees
  • Record keeping

Program Administration

  • The Environmental Health and Safety Officer is responsible for the implementation of the ECP and will maintain and update the written ECP at least annually and whenever necessary to include new or modified tasks and procedures.
     
  • Those employees who are reasonably anticipated to have contact with or exposure to blood or other potentially infected materials are required to comply with the procedures and work practices outlined in this ECP.
     
  • The Custodial Services Department will have the responsibility for written housekeeping protocols and will ensure that effective disinfectants are purchased.
     
  • The Environmental Health and Safety Officer will be responsible for training and ensuring that all medical actions required are performed and that appropriate medical records are maintained.
     
  • The Student Health Services will maintain and provide all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls (i.e., sharp containers, etc.), labels, and red bags as required by the standard. The Student Health Services will ensure that adequate supplies of the aforementioned equipment are available.
  1. Employee Exposure Determination
    OSHA requires employers to perform an exposure determination concerning which employees may incur occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. The exposure determination is made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment (i.e. employees are considered to be exposed even if they wear personal protective equipment). This exposure determination is required to list all job classifications in which all employees may be expected to incur such occupational exposure, regardless of frequency. At this college the following job classifications are in this category:
  • Campus University Police Officer
  • Supervising Campus University Police Officer
  • Chief of University Police
  • Supervisor of College Nursing Services
  • Nurse I
  • Director of Student Health
  • Licensed Practical Nurse
  • College Physicians Assistant
  • Athletic Trainer
  • Laboratory Supervisor

In addition, OSHA requires a listing of job classifications in which some employees in these categories would be expected to incur exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, tasks or procedures that would cause these employees to have occupational exposure are also required to be listed in order to clearly understand which employees in these categories are considered to have occupational exposure. The job classifications and associated tasks for these categories are as follows:

Cleaners/Janitors are responsible for laundry, cleaning in Residence Hall, Student Health
Services, and Training Room.

  1. Effective Dates

    Effective Dates-Code of Federal Regulations
  • Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (Including Universal Precautions) March 6, 1992
  • Exposure Control Plan May 5, 1992
  • Record keeping June 4, 1992
  • Information and Training June 4, 1992
  • Methods of Compliance (Except Universal Precautions) July 6, 1992
  • Hepatitis B Vaccination and Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-Up July 6, 1992
  • Labels and Signs July 6, 1992

The methods of implementation of these elements of the Code are discussed in the Exposure Control Plan (PDF), also available from the Campus Environmental Health and Safety Office, 5th floor, Raymond Hall,  (315) 267-2135.