91Ô­´´

An exposure incident is a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee's duties, or contact with potentially infectious materials that result from the performance of an employee’s duties, where the exposed employee is unsure if contact with eyes, mouth, mucous membranes, non-intact skin or parenteral contact occurred.

In case of an exposure incident, the affected employee should immediately begin first aid by washing the exposure site with water or soap and water. All employees must report an exposure incident to their supervisor when first aid is completed, or as soon as feasible. The employee should report to the Occupational Health Clinic or a licensed health professional for a medical evaluation, once first aid and initial reporting is complete. The employee is encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as possible; in some high risk situations the USPHS and CDC recommend beginning treatment immediately. In cases when the supervisor is not available, the employee should seek medical attention, and report the incident to the supervisor as soon as feasible.

Within one working day the employee and supervisor must complete and submit an 91Ô­´´ Employee Incident Report Form to the Workers’ Compensation Office. In addition, complete the BBP exposure incident worksheet; and attach this form to the Incident Report Form. If the incident involves a sharps injury the employee and supervisor must also complete the Needlestick Injury Form (also submitted to Workers’ Compensation).

An exposure incident checklist is provided to guide response to an exposure incident.

All university employees involved in an exposure incident will be offered free post exposure Hepatitis B vaccine, post-exposure medical evaluation, and medical follow-up, regardless of whether they are included in a Bloodborne Pathogens program.

If the employee reports to the Occupational Health Clinic (OHC) for the confidential medical exam:

1. The employee should bring copies of all the incident reporting forms, if they are complete. Otherwise, copies of the forms must be sent the OHC as soon as feasible. The OHC already has copies of the other required information.
2. The OCH will conduct a confidential medical evaluation, in accordance with the OSHA standard and current USPHS and CDC guidelines.
3. The OCH will provide a copy of the health care professional’s written opinion directly to the employee.

If the employee reports to a Licensed Health Care Professional, other than the OHC, for the confidential medical exam:

The supervisor must send copies of the incident report forms either along with the employee or directly to the health care professional as soon as the forms are completed.

The supervisor must inform EHS and the OHC that the employee is receiving an exam outside of the OHC, and include the name of the health care professional.

1. EHS will send a copy of the federal regulation 29CFR1910.1030, with emphasis on paragraph (F), and copies of the forms to the health care professional.
2. The OHC will send all medical records, as required to be maintained by the employer, which are relevant to treatment of the exposed employee (i.e. the record of HBV vaccination); and any information available about the source material in the exposure incident, for which the university has proper consent to share, to the health care professional.
3. The Licensed Health Care Professional will provide a written opinion to the OHC within 15 calendar days of completion of the medical evaluation. The OHC will provide a copy of the written opinion to the employee. That written opinion will only include:
   1. Whether the Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for the employee and if the employee has received the vaccine, and
   2. A statement that the employee has been informed of the results of the evaluation and that the employee has been told about any medical conditions resulting from the exposure incident that require further evaluation or treatment. The actual finding, diagnoses, treatments, etc. are confidential medical information and will not be included in the report.

For All Medical Exams

The OHC or licensed health care professional will offer the exposed employee at least the following procedures, in accordance with current OSHA regulations (these procedures will only be completed if the employee gives consent to the health care professional):

1. Collection and testing of blood for HBV and HIV serological status including baseline testing and follow-up at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 month (all laboratory tests will be conducted at an accredited laboratory),
2. Post-exposure prophylaxis, according to current U.S. Public Health Service recommendations,
3. Counseling, and
4. Medical evaluation of reported illnesses.

The Campus Unit, in conjunction with the Occupational Health Clinic and EHS will:

1. Attempt to identify and document the source individual for the source material involved in the exposure incident, when feasible and allowed by state and local laws.
2. If consent is received, the source material or source individual will be tested for at least HBV and HIV status, unless it is already known. If consent is not obtained, that status will be documented.
3. Results of the testing will be shared with the exposed individual and their health care professional, as allowed by law, but will not be otherwise disclosed. The exposed individual must comply with applicable laws and regulations concerning disclosure of the source individual’s status.