In today?s workplace, employee safety and preventive regulations are not only required by law, but also essential for the welfare and health of all employees. Some hazards can be life-threatening while others can elicit lifelong illnesses, so it is paramount for all companies to make sure that their employees are aware of such hazards and how to prevent accidents.
BBPs, a highly dangerous and unfortunately common hazard in the workplace, are found in the blood and bodily fluids and can cause disease and illness in people. BBPs are also easily transmitted when they come in contact with the blood or bodily fluids of others, spreading the disease or illness. Therefore, anybody working in a profession that involves blood and bodily fluids is at risk for contracting a disease spread by BBPs. These professions include doctors, nurses, pathologists, paramedics, tattoo artists, researchers, students, and even lifeguards.
The number of infected persons in the workplace is shockingly high and increasing annually, so in 1991 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued certain standards regarding BBPs. These standards, known as the BBPs Standard and the Needlestick Standard, reach any business where workers face potential exposure to human blood or other bodily fluids, and require businesses to train employees in order to minimize the risks of infection from bloodborne pathogens.
Here are two crucial things you need to know about BBPs and why the training is important.
? The Prevalence Of BBPs: When most people think of BBPs they immediately think of HIV/AIDS, and although this is a very real issue facing employees, diseases like HBV and Hepatitis B are not only more common but also just as deadly. As of 2008, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimated over 650,000 people living with a diagnosis of HIV in the United States, and since the majority of these people fall between the ages of 25 and 49, they are also active members of the workforce. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are newly diagnosed with Hepatitis B and HBV. Other diseases that are susceptible to BBP transmission include Hepatitis C, malaria, and syphilis. The numbers are staggering, but it is important to realize that it is difficult, if not impossible, to recognize people harboring such illnesses, and therefore BBP training will ensure that all employees properly know how to take precautions in order to prevent the transmission of these deadly and widespread diseases.
? The Ways In Which Bloodborne Are Transmitted: To put this issue simply, the diseases associated with BBPs infect others when the blood of one comes into contact with the blood of another; however, there are a number of ways that this can occur. Accidental puncture via sharp objects such as broken glass and needles is a common means of transmission, while open cuts coming in contact with blood or bodily fluids, intercourse, or touching dried blood to open orifices are other ways in which BBPs can be transmitted easily. Additionally, some actions like sneezing or coughing will not transmit BBPs. BBP training will educate employees about how to properly recognize whether or not a situation is a potential threat for disease transmission. This distinction can be difficult and very dangerous for any employee without proper BBP training.
BBPs are a very real threat affecting thousands of members of the workforce everyday, from doctors to students to lifeguards. Any worker whose job contains the potential risk for contact with blood or bodily fluids must take a BBP training course, as the consequences of being uneducated about this issue are life threatening and potentially deadly. Courses often only take a couple of hours, so it is very easy to put aside a little bit of time and get yourself educated about such an important matter in your everyday life.
To learn more, visit our website about Bloodborne Pathogen Training today and bookmark it to share with others!
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