I. PRINCIPLE

Courses taught in the Biomedical Sciences laboratories often require the use of blood, body fluids, and other biohazardous material. The purpose of this policy is to provide a protocol following an exposure to these potentially infectious materials.

II. SCOPE

This policy applies to all students, non-students, and staff at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee that utilize restricted areas in the Department of Biomedical Sciences teaching labs in which there is a reasonable risk of exposure to biohazardous material. Restricted areas containing possible biohazardous material include Enderis Hall B70, B76, B78, B80, B86, B88, and B90.

III. TRAINING

All staff and students that expect to work unsupervised in the BMS teaching labs must review this procedure, complete training by Lab Manager or PI, and fill out the Exposure Control Plan Training Certificate/Annual Review Form, with a submission type of “Initial Training Certification”. After initial training, procedure must be reviewed annually and documented with the Training Certificate/Annual Review Form, submission type “Annual Procedure Review”.

See BMS 1.0 Utilization of Space and Supplies for guidelines on unsupervised student access to BMS teaching laboratories.

IV. FIRST AID AND IMMEDIATE ACTION FOLLOWING INCIDENT/EXPOSURE

A. If incident involves a needle stick or bleeding cut/laceration, flush the exposed area with copious amounts of water and clean wound with soap and water. Staff/student should go to Norris Health Center or other hospital of choice if injury requires immediate medical attention. Non-students (including UWM faculty/staff) are not eligible to use Norris Health Center services and should seek medical attention at the closest hospital or clinic. See Norris Health Center Eligibility page for more information.

B. If incident involves mucosal/ocular exposure, flush area with copious amounts of water. For ocular (eye) exposure, eyewash station should be used for a minimum of 10 minutes.

C. If incident involves contact with preexisting cuts or wounds, flush area with copious amounts of water and wash area with soap and water.

D. If incident involves contact with intact skin only, wash area with soap and water. This is not classified as an exposure, as defined in section V, and no further care or follow up is needed.

If serious injury occurs, immediately call 9911 from a campus phone, or 414-229-9911 from any cell phone to get emergency medical assistance.

V. DETERMINATION OF EXPOSURE

A. An exposure is defined as any injury in which the skin is punctured by an item containing potentially infectious material, or where there has been contact of mucous membranes or non-intact skin with potentially infectious materials. Examples of an exposure that requires activation of the Exposure Control Plan protocol would be:

a. Needle stick with contaminated needle
b. Bleeding cut or laceration that is caused by a visibly contaminated item
c. Non-bleeding cut or laceration that is caused by a visibly contaminated item
d. Preexisting wound that is exposed to blood or body fluids
e. Mucous membrane that is exposed to blood or body fluids (i.e. eyes, mouth)

B. Incidents must be evaluated to determine the need to initiate the Exposure Control Plan protocol.

a. Incidents that involve contact with intact skin only do not require Exposure Control Plan protocol activation. If incident is a result of a safety rule violation, Accident Incident Report Form (attached) should be completed and submitted.

VI. DOCUMENTATION AND RECOMMENDED MEDICAL ATTENTION

A. Information collected for reports must include:

a. Name/contact information of exposed individual
b. Date/time/location of incident
c. Description of incident, along with detail of injuries sustained
d. Type of exposure (blood, body fluid, needle containing xxx, etc.), including identification of source if available
. i. If possible, original sample should be retained if needed for future testing/further assessment
e. Name/contact information of any witnesses to incident
f. Description of any safety violations or variation in protocol that may have led to incident
g. Treatment rendered, i.e. flushed wound, used eyewash station, etc.

B. STUDENTS / VOLUNTEERS / VISITERS / GUESTS: Complete the university General Incident Report along with the BMS Accident Incident Report Form.

C. EMPLOYEES: Complete the university Employer’s First Report of Injury or Disease form along with the BMS Accident Incident Report Form.

D. Individuals that are determined to have an exposure should seek medical follow up at the Norris Health Center, Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, other hospital of choice, or by the individual’s primary care physician. Non-students (including UWM faculty/staff) are not eligible to use Norris Health Center services and should seek medical attention at the closest hospital or clinic. See Norris Health Center Eligibility page for more information. A copy of the departmental Accident Incident Report Form should be given to individual to provide to attending physician.

i. See Norris Health Center Blood & Body Fluid Exposure Policy for description of possible medical evaluation and post-exposure recommendations.

VII. POST-EXPOSURE FOLLOW UP

A. Determined by clinic/hospital/ primary care physician.

i. See Norris Health Center Blood & Body Fluid Exposure Policy for description of possible medical evaluation and post-exposure recommendations.

VIII. REFERENCES

US Department of Labor. OSHA Blood Borne Pathogens Standard. 29CFR 1910.1030

US Department of Labor. Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens. OSHA Directive Number CPL2-2.44D, effective Nov.27, 2001 [OSHA Office of Health Compliance Assistance, tel. 202-693-2190]

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Department of Student Health, Norris Health Center. (1999). Blood or Body Fluid Exposure Outline of Response/Medical Evaluation Post-Exposure policy. Milwaukee, WI.

Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines For The Management Of Occupational Exposures To HIV And Recommendations For Postexposure Prophylaxis. Centers for Disease Control, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

IX. PROCEDURAL NOTES

A. It is recommended that all forms are completed immediately. If unable to complete at time of exposure, forms must be completed and submitted within 24 hours of incident.

a. General Incident Report must be submitted to the UW-Milwaukee, Department of University Safety & Assurances (address located on form).

b. Employer’s First Report of Injury or Disease must be submitted to the Department of Workforce Development Worker’s Compensation Division (address located on form).

c. BMS Accident Incident Report Form is automatically submitted to Department of Biomedical Sciences Program Director.

B. All medical costs associated with follow-up evaluation and treatment are the responsibility of the individual and are not covered by the Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, or Norris Health Center. The exposed individual should promptly notify their health insurance carrier and primary care physician of exposure incident.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

College of Health Professions & SciencesBiomedical Sciences Labs

Exposure Control Plan [SAFE 6.0]