Someone in the organization must be designated as the infectious disease officer. OSHA's directives include an exposure control plan that can be adapted for each organization. Any employee who handles blood or other potentially infectious material must utilize Universal Precautions, which include:
- Use of barrier devices such as medical exam gloves, masks, eye protection, and gowns whenever contact with blood or body fluids is expected.
- Washing hands after any contact with blood or body fluids, even if barrier devices are used. Hands should be washed as soon as gloves are removed.
- Taking care to prevent injuries from sharps, including needles and scalpels. Used needles and scalpels should never be re-capped. Any sharp objects contaminated with blood are considered "sharps" for the purposes of universal precautions. For example, if an employee cuts herself on broken glass, the glass is considered potentially infectious.
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