Policy
In the event of a significant exposure, the employee should do the following:
- Seek initial medical examination with Occupational Medicine Consultants or HCMC ER; (08/05/13)
- The employee may obtain testing, counseling, and follow-up services through their own medical provider;
- Refer to the Checklist for Work-Related Injuries (08/05/13)
- Complete a Supervisor’s Report of Injury (IOD) form and submit it to their immediate supervisor.
Note: Employees may be responsible for medical expenses incurred if Worker’s Compensation guidelines are not followed and/or Worker’s Compensation does not accept the claim.
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.
- Significant Exposure:
Having sustained a contact which carries a potential for a transmission of bloodborne pathogens by one or more of the following means:
- A skin puncture by a needle or sharp object that has had contact with blood or body fluid from another person
- Blood or bodily fluids of another person in contact with the mucus membranes or eyes
- Any contamination of open skin (cuts, abrasions, blisters, open dermatitis) by blood or body fluids, or bites that break the skin
- Blood or blood-containing fluids in contact with skin longer than 5 minutes
Note: Fluids such as urine, saliva, vomit and stool are considered significant only when they contain visible blood. Significant exposure to diseases communicable by airborne transmission (including tuberculosis, chicken pox, measles, and pertussis) will be confirmed and follow-up will be determined with the help of Public Health.