The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to adopt a policy for the protection of the Village's employees to help guard against the accidental contraction of the AIDS virus, HIV, in the work place. This policy shall be kept on file in the Clerk's office and may be amended from time to time as needed.
(Ord. 1993-2. Passed 2-8-93.)
POLICY AND PROCEDURE
Protection Against HIV & AIDS Viruses
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a rapidly growing danger for police officers and other Village workers while they are engaged in their line of work.
The following policy has been written to insure the employees of the Village the maximum protection against the diseases.
I. Precaution.
A. Employees shall become familiar with the various means of contracting the disease and use all possible discretion to limit their exposure to the diseases.
B. Officers and employees should be aware that certain prescribed medications, such as steroids and asthma medication, suppresses their immune system and makes them more susceptible to infectious diseases.
C. Officers shall not eat, drink or smoke at scenes where bodily fluids exist or where the chance of transmitting the virus exists.
II. Equipment.
A. Protective disposable gloves and other disposable protective items shall be supplied by the Village and used by employees of the Village whenever body fluid is present or the possibility of transmission of the viruses is present.
1. Kits containing protective items shall be carried in the police vehicles at all times and shall be the responsibility of the officer on duty to assure that two kits are in the vehicle at all times.
2. Kits shall contain but not limited to:
a. Disposable gloves
b. Safety glasses
c. Face mask
d. Apron
e. Antiseptic wipes
f. Information book
g. Plastic bag for disposal of items
III. Taking Persons into Custody.
A. All persons taken into custody shall be handled with caution. All persons shall be handled as if they are HIV carriers.
B. Extreme care shall be taken during a search of a suspect to prevent accidental skin punctures from needles concealed on the suspects person.
C. When it becomes necessary to handle any person who has blood or body fluids on his clothing or who has open sores, gloves, glasses, mask and apron should be worn if time permits to utilize them.
D. The officer shall always use disposable gloves when handling any person.
1. Disposable latex gloves shall be kept on the officer's person at all times, while he is on duty, by the use of a nylon pouch worn on the officer's Sam Brown belt.
IV. Disinfection Procedures.
A. Disinfection procedures shall be used whenever a police vehicle has been contaminated by blood or body fluid discharges, and shall begin as soon as possible after the subject has been removed from the vehicle.
B. Protective gloves, eye protection and mask shall be worn during decontamination.
C. Excess blood and body fluid shall be removed with disposable absorbent wipes and properly disposed of in the prescribed manner.
D. The affected area shall be cleaned by mixing a solution of bleach and water at a 1:10 ratio.
V. Disposal Procedures.
A. When removing protective latex gloves, they should be turned inside out upon removal and the outside shall not be touched by the bare hand.
B. All contaminated items shall be sealed in a plastic bag and disposed of at the Willoughby Hills Fire Department by placing them in a properly marked container.
1. Once a plastic bag has been sealed closed, it shall not be reopened.
C. Any officer handling any contaminated items shall, upon return to the police station, scrub with germicidal soap for at least 10 seconds.
D. If a departmental item is contaminated by blood or body fluids, it shall be sealed in a plastic bag, and delivered to the Chief of Police.
VI. Potential Exposure. Any officer that has cause to believe he has been exposed to the viruses shall, after decontamination, write a complete report of the incident and, without delay, contact the Chief of Police.