What are Bloodborne Pathogens?

 

As we’ve mentioned throughout our blog, we consistently urge you to leave remediation to the professionals. Not only for your safety, but for the safety of others as well. Here’s why:

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. They are easily transmitted through contact with another’s blood or bodily fluids (whether they are wet or dry). These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - all of which are very serious, incurable, and life-threatening.

Most of the time, exposure to these pathogens occurs when an untrained individual enters a contaminated crime-scene area without wearing the proper protective clothing, uses an inappropriate disposal container for a contaminated item, or is accidentally cut by a sharp contaminated object or needle. It’s important to understand that many types of bacteria can survive for days, weeks, or even months on inanimate surfaces and can lay dormant for an indefinite time until rewetted posing a serious health risk once again.

When we receive a call from a concerned client regarding the remediation of a scene, we respond within 1-3 hours. Specializing in Emergency Response, we urge you not to act first to ensure the safety of everyone directly or indirectly involved.

Trust Brooks Remediation for professional and safe bloodborne pathogen and crime scene cleanup to ensure your home is restored to its original, safe condition. Contact us today and allow our empathetic and professional staff members alleviate the burden and responsibility involved in the cleanup and disinfection off of your shoulders, and on to ours. 800-663-2854

OSHA Definitions 1910.1030: Bloodborne Pathogens A-E

Here at Brooks Remediation, our highly trained and professional biohazard remediation personnel are not only dedicated to trauma cleanup, but education as well. We understand certain lingo may be used that you may be unfamiliar with, and as such we want to ensure you don’t feel more overwhelmed.

See below for an A-E glossary of frequently used words:

"Blood" means human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.

"Bloodborne Pathogens" means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

"Clinical Laboratory" means a workplace where diagnostic or other screening procedures is performed on blood or other potentially infectious materials.

"Contaminated" means the presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item or surface.

"Contaminated Laundry" means laundry that has been soiled with blood or other potentially infectious materials or may contain sharps.

"Contaminated Sharps" means any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including, but not limited to, needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, and exposed ends of dental wires.

"Decontamination" means the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered 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 designated representative.

"Engineering Controls" means controls (e.g., sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing needles) that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace.

"Exposure Incident" means a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral with blood or other potentially infectious materials that result from the performance of an employee's duties.

Trust Brooks Remediation for professional and safe bloodborne pathogen and crime scene cleanup to ensure your home is restored to its original, safe condition. Contact us today and allow our empathetic and professional staff members alleviate the burden and responsibility involved in the cleanup and disinfection off of your shoulders, and on to ours. 800-663-2854