AFFILIATE ORIENTATION MANUAL 20 Sharps Safety Sharps safety devices are for your protection and, by law, you must use them. Sharps safety devices include: • IM/SQ needles and syringes. • Needle-less IV tubing sets. • Safety lancets. • Phlebotomy devices. • IV safety catheter. Always discard sharps and only sharps in a sharps disposal container. Safety devices must be activated before disposal. Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) The BBP Exposure Control Plan provides information on: • Hepatitis B vaccinations. • Jobs and tasks that are risky. • How to choose personal protective equipment (PPE). If you have questions about BBP, contact Health at Work or Infection Prevention. After hours, hospital staff should contact the administrative coordinator or refer to the Bloodborne Pathogen: Management Plan. Blood Spills, Exposures and Personal Protective Equipment To clean a blood spill: • Put on gloves and other PPE appropriate to the size of the spill. • Contain the spill. • Clean up the blood and dispose of appropriately. • Spray the surface with an approved disinfectant. • Wipe clean. If you are exposed to blood or other body fluids: • Immediately wash the exposed skin with soap and water or hand sanitizer (if soap and water are not immediately available). Flush mucous membranes with water or saline. • Report to your Health at Work nurse or the administrative coordinator after hours. • Complete Report of Injury, Illness, or Exposure through Safety Zone Portal. When handling blood or “Other Potentially Infectious Materials” (OPIM) and anytime there is a risk of a splash you must use the following PPE: • Gloves when handling blood or OPIM. • Gowns when there is a risk of splash of blood or OPIM to clothing. • Masks and goggles (both) or face shields when blood or OPIM could splash your face. Make sure you know where to find these items and how to use PPE. Standard Precautions is for All Patients Standard precautions are designed for the care of all patients regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. These precautions apply to the following: • Blood. • All body fluids. • Secretions and excretions (except sweat). • Nonintact skin. • Mucous membranes. For more details, see the Infection Prevention Standard and Transmission Based Precautions Policy. Radiation Safety When in any radiology area, pay close attention to signs, especially in the MRI area. Cone Health has several MRI units within our organization, which are magnetic and are always on. Please follow authorized personnel instructions when in those areas. Ferrous items, such as jewelry, keys, etc., can cause serious injury and/or damage the scanner when near MRI machines. Compressed Gases Safety/Storage Tanks must be chained or stored to prevent falling. Compressed gas tanks will be stored in the following ways: • Full, unopened/unused. • Ready to use. • Opened tanks and have more than 500 psi. • Empty tanks and have 500 psi or less. INFECTION PREVENTION, Continued