For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BLOOD. Human blood, human blood components and products made from human blood.
BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS. Pathogenic microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
CONTAMINATED. Presence of reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials.
CONTAMINATED LAUNDRY. Laundry soiled with blood or other potentially infectious materials or that may contain sharps.
DECONTAMINATION. Using physical and/or chemical means to remove, inactivate or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or items to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use or disposal.
ENGINEERING CONTROLS. Controls (e.g., sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing needles) that isolate or remove the blood-borne pathogen hazard from the work place.
EXPOSURE INCIDENT. A specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from an employee’s duties.
HAND-WASHING FACILITIES. A facility providing an adequate supply of running potable water, soap and single use towels or hot air drying machines.
HIV. Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE. Reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties.
OTHER POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIAL (OPIM).
(1) Semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva and any body fluid contaminated with blood; all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids;
(2) Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or dead); and
(3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures and HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions, and blood, organs or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE). Specialized clothing or equipment such as rubber gloves or goggles worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. General work clothes (e.g., uniforms, pants, shirts or blouses) not intended to function as protection against a hazard are not considered to be PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
REGULATED WASTE. Liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps, and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.
STERILIZE. The use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all microbial life including highly resistant bacterial endospores.
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS. The approach to infection control that treats all human blood and certain human body fluids as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other blood-borne pathogens.
WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS. Controls that reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task if performed (e.g., prohibiting recapping of needles by a two-handed technique).
(Ord. passed 3-16-2009)