TANNEHILL

HYGIENE AND SANITATION

(BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS)

The Tannehill  Board of Education recognizes that body fluids of any person may contain infectious or contagious bacteria or viruses, and that such bacteria or viruses may be spread from one person to another by accidental or careless handling of body fluids during sanita­tion or custodial work or the administration of emergency first aid.

The superintendent is directed to prepare regulations establishing proper procedures for handling body fluids during normal house­keeping.  Such procedures shall include methods for the handling and disposal of body fluids in school buildings and on school equipment and material.  The district will make personal protec­tive equipment available to employees for use in handling and disposing of body fluids.

The superintendent will also direct the identification of employees who could be reasonably anticipated as the result of their job duties to face contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.  Any employees so identified will be offered Hepatitis B vaccinations at district cost.  Such vaccinations will be provided at a reasonable time and place, under the supervision of a licensed physician or health care professional and according to the latest recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service.

School district employees who have had an exposure incident to body fluids will participate in a follow-up confi­dential medical evaluation documenting the circumstances of exposure, identifying and testing the source individual if feasible, testing the exposed employee's blood if the employee consents, post-exposure prophy­laxis, counseling and evaluation of reported illnesses.  Health care professionals must be provided specified information to facilitate the evaluation and their written opinion on the need for Hepatitis B vaccination following exposure.  Information such as the employee's ability to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine must be supplied to the employer.  All diagnoses must remain confidential.

REFERENCE:    63 O.S. §1-502, et seq.

                                29 CFR Part 1910.1030, OSHA