(04/22/09)
Officers may be called upon to directly interact with persons who are known or suspected of having communicable infectious diseases. Such interactions may occur when officers are acting as first responders, when they are called upon to transport possibly infectious persons, or to enforce isolation or quarantine orders. Other MPD employees might have contact with contaminated clothing or other personal effects of infected persons as a result of these officer contacts.
The policy of the Minneapolis Police Department regarding exposure to blood borne and air borne pathogens in the occupational setting is to provide precautions and preventative measures, offer testing, counseling and follow-up for employees exposed in the course of their work for the MPD.
The following sections provide Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines for MPD employees. These guidelines should be followed to prevent exposures and provide a post-exposure plan in the event an employee suffers a significant exposure.