While normal library operations are
not likely to involve circumstances
exposing employees or patrons to
bloodborne pathogens, the Chatsworth
Township Library complies with
Illinois Department of Labor
regulations and therefore the
federal Occupational Safety and
Health Administration regulations
relating to occupational exposures
to bloodborne pathogens which have
been incorporated by administrative
actions.
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I. EXPOSURE
DETERMINATION
No particular job classification of
the Library has occupational
exposure (meaning "reasonably
anticipated contact with blood or
other potentially infectious
materials that may result from the
performance of an employee's
duties"), however, emergencies may
occur with staff of patrons,
particularly youth of elderly
patrons, to which library employees
in all classifications may be called
upon to respond with assistance.
Perhaps emergencies with "out of
control" individuals (e.g. biting,
spitting, etc.) could present an
individual threat.
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II.
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
All potential circumstances of
exposure must be taken into account
by the Library and its employees to
protect against exposures.
Hepatitis B (HBV), human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and
other bloodborne pathogens found in
human blood and other body fluids
cause life-threatening diseases. In
emergency or other such
circumstances, when contact with
blood or other potentially
infectious materials may result, the
Library's approach to infection
control requires all human blood and
body fluids to be treated as if know
to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and
other bloodborne pathogens.
Engineering and work practice
controls shall be used to eliminate
or minimize employee exposures, and
if a possibility of exposure
remains, personal protective
equipment shall also be used.
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III.
EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN
At any time within the Library
environment that human blood, human
body fluids, or other potentially
infectious materials are presented,
the area contaminated shall be
immediately cordoned off and
quarantined, even if the entire
library must be closed to accomplish
this completely. Personal
protection clothing, such as gloves,
gowns, masks, etc. shall be provided
and used in the cleanup and safe
disposal of contaminated waste such
as diapers. blood-tinged materials
(e.g. Band-Aids, gauze, cotton,
clothing, etc.), etc. If advisable,
a professional
hazardous/contaminated cleanup firm
shall be contacted and retained for
complete cleanup and
decontamination. The quarantine
shall be effective until complete
cleanup and disposal is obtained.
Hand-washing facilities are provided
by the Library and must be used by
employees as soon as feasible,
including following the removal of
personal protective equipment. A
complete record or all incidents,
exposures, cleanup, and disposal
shall be kept as required by the
regulations.
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IV.
TRAINING AND IMMUNIZATIONS
The Library shall provide directly
or through the System, State or
associated programs, annual
in-service training/educational
programs for all affected
employees. any employee who has an
occupational exposure shall be
offered, at no charge, the hepatitis
B vaccine series, in accordance with
the regulations. Following the
report of an exposure incident, the
Library will make immediately
available to the exposed employee or
employees a confidential medical
evaluation and follow-up as provided
in the regulations.
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