THE ORCBS > Biological Safety > Programs & Guidelines > Exposure Control Plan >

Information and Training

All employees who have the potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens must attend a comprehensive training program. This includes bloodborne pathogens initial training and annual bloodborne pathogens refresher training.

All new employees, as well as employees changing jobs or job functions, will be given any additional training their position requires by their new supervisor prior to beginning their new job assignments.

The ORCBS will maintain documentation for all employees who have potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens and have received training through the ORCBS. Departments will maintain documentation of all site-specific training.

Note: Go to the ORCBS website at www.orcbs.msu.edu to sign up for classes and view the training sessions that are available online.

Training Topics

Bloodborne pathogens initial training for new employees who will have occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens will include the following mandatory topics:

1. MIOSHA's Bloodborne Infectious Diseases Standard;
   
2. Epidemiology, symptoms and modes of transmission of bloodborne diseases including HIV, HBV, and HCV;
   
3. Existence of other bloodborne diseases;
   
4. MSU's Exposure Control Plan;
   
5. Appropriate methods for recognizing tasks and other activities that may involve exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials;
   
6. A review of the use and limitations of methods that will prevent or reduce exposure, including:
   
   • engineering controls including safer medical devices
   • work practice controls
   • personal protective equipment
     
7. Selection and use of personal protective equipment including:
   
   • types available
   • proper use
   • limitations
   • location
   • removal
   • handling
   • decontamination
   • disposal
     
8. Visual warning of biohazards including labels, signs, and color-coded containers;
   
9. Proper procedures and materials involved in the cleanup of spills of potentially infectious materials;
   
10. Information on the Hepatitis B Vaccine, including:
    
    • availability
    • its efficacy
    • its safety
    • the method of administration
    • the benefits of vaccination
    • MSU's vaccination program
      
11. Actions to take and persons to contact in an emergency involving blood or other potentially infectious materials;
    
12. Procedures to follow if an exposure incident occurs, including incident reporting;
    
13. Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up including medical consultation;
    
14. Recommendations specific to a particular department and unique threats posed by potentially infectious materials in that department.
    

Training Methods

1. Several training techniques may be used including:
   
   • personal instruction
   • videotape programs
   • computer aided interactive training
   • training manuals/employee handouts
   • employee review sessions
     
2. Opportunities for employees to ask questions will be provided.
   
3. Departments requesting training to be conducted at their site must provide a designated person to be available during the training session to answer site-specific questions.
   
4. The participant must also complete site-specific training with their supervisor or a designated trainer for their area within thirty days of their initial training. (see below for details).
   

Annual Refresher Training:

MSU employees who have previously completed initial bloodborne pathogens training through the ORCBS must take annual refresher training that will be due one year from the last date of training.

The participant must also complete site-specific training with their supervisor or a designated trainer for their area within thirty days of their refresher training. (see below for details).

Site-Specific Training:

Site-specific training must be completed in each department. It must be administered by the employee's supervisor or the supervisor's designated trainer. The following forms must be completed:

• Site-Specific Training Checklist
• Task-Specific Assessment for Controlling BBP Exposure Risk form

1. Task-Specific Assessment for Controlling BBP Exposure Risk form:

This form was designed to serve as a tool for departmental supervisors to use to develop site-specific and task-specific procedures for BBP exposure risk reduction. By completing a form for each task that has a reasonably anticipated risk of exposure, the supervisor will generate a documentation set that can serve as a training tool for both new and existing personnel to further assure that all exposure control elements of Michigan OSHA's Bloodborne Infectious Diseases standard are addressed at the departmental level. Please observe the following:

• Forms should be updated whenever a procedure changes that affects the information outlined in these documents. Otherwise, annual review of the forms to assure that the information is current is strongly recommended since they are intended to serve as guidance and training documents for affected personnel.
• If you need assistance with completion of these assessments, please do not hesitate to contact the ORCBS Biosafety Team at 355-0153.
• Completed forms should be maintained with the departmental copy of the MSU Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan in a location that is accessible for affected personnel and readily available for regulatory review.
• The form is available in Appendix E (including a completed example) and through the ORCBS website which can be accessed by logging on to the ORCBS Home Page ( http://www.orcbs.msu.edu ), selecting the "Biological Safety" option, and then selecting the "Forms" option.

2. Site-Specific Training Checklist:

In order to complete the training requirements of MIOSHA's "Bloodborne Infectious Diseases" standard, please observe the following:

• The department supervisor or designated trainer must review the items listed on the site-specific training checklist with the employee and check each item as it is reviewed. Write N/A if it is not applicable to your work area.
• A Supervisor's Guidelines for Site-Specific Training form is included in Appendix E to assist the supervisor (or designated trainer) in completing the checklist with the employee.
• Refer to the Task-Specific Assessment for Controlling BBP Exposure Risk form as a training tool.
• When complete, the supervisor (or designated trainer) and the employee must sign and date at the bottom of the checklist.
• Checklists must be completed within 30 days of the training and filed with departmental records that will be subject to periodic audits by the ORCBS.
• The Site-Specific Training Checklist and the Supervisor's Guidelines for Site-Specific Training form are available in Appendix E and through the ORCBS website which can be accessed by logging on to the ORCBS Home Page ( http://www.orcbs.msu.edu), selecting the "Biological Safety" option, and then selecting the "Forms" option

Note: If the participant performs duties involving a bloodborne pathogen exposure risk at a location that is off-campus, such as clinical or research work at a local healthcare facility, the participant should complete the checklist with that facility's supervisor/trainer. In these situations, the site-specific information to be reviewed must include the off-campus facility's policies and procedures related to their exposure control plan and medical waste management plan.

Record Keeping

All bloodborne pathogens training that is conducted by the ORCBS or by an ORCBS designated trainer must be documented by the ORCBS and contain the following information:

1. Dates of all training sessions;

2. Contents/summary of the training sessions;

3. Names and qualifications of the instructors;

4. Names and job title of employees attending the training sessions.

All ORCBS designated trainers must send a copy of the sign-in form to the ORCBS for computerized record keeping purposes.

Inspections/Audits

Biological safety staff from the ORCBS will periodically inspect departments that are working with or may come in contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials to assure that regulatory compliance needs are met and to identify areas where further assistance is needed.

Inspections will be scheduled in advance and will include inspection of the worksite for items such as proper use of the equipment and signage as well as an audit of departmental procedures and training documents.

Exposure Control Plan Table of Contents