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If you are an employer or employee or safety representative and you are involved in work where exposure to blood or other body fluids may occur, this article is of particular relevance to you.
BBVs are viruses that are carried in a person's blood and may cause severe disease in some people but not in others. The virus can spread to another person regardless as to whether the carrier is ill or not.
The main BBVs of concern are hepatitis B, C and D, which all cause a disease of the liver, and HIV which causes AIDS and affects the immune system of the body. These viruses are not only found in blood but in other body fluids such as semen, breast milk, saliva and vomit.
There are a number of different types of work where there may be contact with blood including custodial services, emergency services, social services, plumbing and needle exchange services.
BBVs are usually transmitted in the workplace through accidental contamination such as a sharp instrument like a needle or broken glass. Contamination may also occur via open wounds and skin abrasions.
As an employer it is your responsibility to protect the health of your workers and anyone else who may be affected by your work such as the public or contractors etc.
Working with hazardous substances such as BBVs, is covered by Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) legislation. CoSHH law stipulates that employers assess the risk of infection for workers and those affected by their work. Once a risk has been identified, suitable controls need to be put in place to protect their health. Employees must also be given suitable information, instruction and training.
A risk assessment will help provide guidance and so should be carried out wherever BBVs are present. Employers should make an informed and valid judgement about the risks, control measures and consider health surveillance where necessary.
Some measures that need to be considered include the design of work processes and engineering control measures (such as safer needles) so as to prevent or minimise the release of biological agents into the place of work. Examples of some control measures may include to cover all skin cuts by using gloves, using good basic hygiene practices such as hand washing and to prohibit eating, drinking and smoking in contaminated areas.
Staff members should also be immunised where applicable against certain BBVs and the risk assessment should determine if this is necessary.
Needles should be stored and collected safely and contaminated waste needs to be disposed of correctly. There should be a local code of practice for dealing with spillages and other forms of contamination and workers need to be made aware of it.
Should someone be exposed to BBVs by a puncture to the skin from a contaminated needle then this incident must be reported to the relevant enforcing authority as a dangerous occurrence.
