Professional bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) certification isn’t just something that healthcare professionals should make a priority. Instead, it’s an important subject for careful instruction among a wide range of workers in many different work environments.
This is why an essential rundown of what risks exist in which contexts and how bloodborne pathogens certification manages them is worth reviewing. Let’s dive into the details of what BBPs are and how you can effectively learn to manage them in any workplace where they pose a notable risk.
What are bloodborne pathogens?
Bloodborne pathogens are essentially infection-transmitting microorganisms that can be transmitted between people through contact with blood and other bodily fluids. In most cases, transmission requires direct contact between open wounds or mucous membranes and a source of infected blood and bodily fluids, but not always.
Exceptions to typical transmission include more unusual bloodborne diseases that usually spread by insects or other pests, for example certain diseases such as malaria and dengue. These too can in fact be spread by other sources of penetrating contact with an infected person’s blood, such as contaminated needles, bloody broken glass and surgical equipment.
With that said, the most common bloodborne pathogens in certain workplace settings with a potential risk are the following:
- Hepatitis B (HBV)
- Hepatitis C (HCV)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Finally, much less common but highly dangerous bloodborne pathogens also include Ebola and other hemorrhagic viruses such as Lassa fever. These may be improbable in most workplaces but can be a risk in certain cases. For example, workers in overseas field clinics, military settings or in laboratory and hospital settings that handle tropical infections could come into contact with these exotic infections.
What kind of professions and workplaces present a risk of bloodborne infections?
If you think that only clinical and medical laboratory staff are likely to be at risk of infection with a bloodborne pathogen, you should be aware that this risk is far more widespread than that.
Aside from obvious cases of anyone working in any hospital, clinic, doctor’s office or medical lab, people in many other professions are also at heightened risk. Some of these include:
- Emergency first responders
- Housekeeping staff
- Janitorial crews
- Garbage collectors
- Sewage workers
- Military personnel
- Corrections employees
The above are just some major examples of labor risk categories and there are others in many contexts. Furthermore, the bottom line is that anyone at all in any setting where they might have to administer first aid is exposing themselves to the risk of a bloodborne pathogens.
All of these people should know about safe management of these sources of danger. This is why it’s useful to have at least some staff certified in BBP management in many different workplace types.
What are the essentials of Bloodborne Pathogen risk management?
Having a staff that’s trained to mitigate the dangers of bloodborne infection vectors by a certified instructor or at least by an employee with bloodborne pathogens certification is crucial for a safe workplace. This applies especially in any of the high-risk professions mentioned above. This type of certification can offer employees explicit and detailed instructions on minimizing infection risks and handling potential infections in a way that could save lives.
However, in terms of basics, all employees should at the very least be taught about universal precautions against bloodborne diseases. These include frequent hand washing, minimizing both direct and indirect contact exposure, correctly using personal protection equipment, proper injury management and proper biohazard waste disposal. Employees should also be trained well to respond rapidly in emergency situations.
Further steps to take
If you’re interested in the deeper details of bloodborne pathogens certification, you’ll need to know a number of much deeper details. Professional certification can offer employees much more than rudimentary tips about the safe handling of these disease vectors. The benefits of deep, correct training for handling bloodborne diseases and the circumstances that can cause their spread are enormous.
ALso read Should Acquire a Bloodborne Pathogens Certification
