Policy
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| 9.9.1 |
Southern Cross University is concerned about the health
and wellbeing of staff, students and visitors and aims to ensure all precautions
are in place to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens. The
prevention of transmission of blood-borne pathogens is supported through
educating staff and students, and assisting those who may be infected
with these pathogens. |
Purpose
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| 9.9.2 |
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the transmission
of blood-borne pathogens is controlled, such that the personal and social
impact of infection is minimised. It is also the purpose of this policy
to encourage staff and students to modify "at risk" behaviours. |
Definitions
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| 9.9.3 |
For the purpose of this policy, blood-borne pathogens
include the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis viruses,
their associated mutations and other blood-borne viruses. |
| 9.9.4 |
Standard precautions are standard operating procedures
that apply to contact with all human blood, body fluids and tissues regardless
of their perceived infectious risk. These precautions include aseptic
techniques, hand washing, use of personal protective equipment, appropriate
disinfection of equipment and implementation of environmental controls.
Standard precautions will incorporate safe systems of handling blood (including
dried blood), other body fluids, secretions and excretions (excluding
sweat), non-intact skin and mucous membranes, and human tissues. |
Procedures
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| 9.9.5 |
Southern Cross University will raise the awareness
of blood-borne diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
among the University community. The awareness will be to a level where
the entire community is aware of the facts about transmission, and individuals
are able to assess their own risk and make decisions that will protect
them from transmission. |
| 9.9.6 |
Southern Cross University will endeavour to ensure
that myths, prejudices and unnecessary fears are reduced, and participants
in education programs will emerge with the requisite practical skills
necessary for the prevention of transmission of blood-borne diseases. |
| 9.9.7 |
Education will be directed to all staff and students.
Education programs for blood-borne diseases will be multifaceted, and
will occur in a wide variety of settings throughout the University. Particular
emphasis is placed on the provision of education upon request, for campus
support groups, professional caregivers and people who are HIV or Hepatitis
positive. |
| 9.9.8 |
Hepatitis B vaccination is available through the Student
Support Centre Medical Officer to all staff members who, in the course
of their work, are at increased risk of contracting Hepatitis B due to
contact with human body fluids or due to risk of contact with used injecting
equipment and other contaminated sharps. Post-vaccination testing should
be carried out to determine the level of protection conferred by the vaccine.
Non-responders (those people who have not developed protective antibody
levels following vaccination) will not have immunity, and should be counselled
regarding their options. |
| 9.9.9 |
All persons using sharps in laboratories, research
situations and for personal/medical use are responsible for their safe
disposal in standard sharps bins that have been provided. Sharps containers
are available in all laboratories and have also been installed in various
toilets and buildings around the University to encourage proper disposal
of used injecting equipment. |
| 9.9.10 |
Training is provided for Grounds staff in the proper
handling and disposal of used injection equipment. |
| 9.9.11 |
Stringent confidentiality procedures are enforced within
the University in respect of all personal information concerning infectious
disease. |
| 9.9.12 |
The University maintains insurance policies consistent
with current knowledge and practice relating to HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.
This ensures appropriate cover in the event of University employees contracting
HIV or Hepatitis from work-related duties, students contracting these
diseases as a result of the professional experience component of a course,
and students contracting these diseases as a consequence of participation
in laboratory exercises or research activities. |
| 9.9.13 |
In NSW it is illegal to discriminate against another person on the grounds
that they have contracted a disease such as HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis. The University
requires all members of its community to meticulously avoid any such discrimination.
Further information about this may be obtained from the Equity Department. |
| 9.9.14 |
Where an individual believes they have been treated
unfairly or inappropriately pursuant to the implementation or operation
of this policy, that person shall have the right to seek resolution of
their grievance through Equity Services. |
| 9.9.15 |
Any educational activity that requires students to
deal with human body fluids should have prior approval from the University's
Human Research Ethics Committee. |
| 9.9.16 |
All body fluids and tissues should be handled as if
they are infectious. Whenever possible students should use their own blood
or body fluids during laboratory classes. However, if outside sources
of human blood or tissue are required they should be screened for the
presence of infectious diseases prior to use in class. |
| 9.9.17 |
All staff and students must wash their hands before
wearing and after removing gloves. This is to ensure that viruses that
are able to penetrate gloves due to their size do not further contaminate
the user. |
| 9.9.18 |
All participants in laboratories that deal with human
body fluids and sharps must wear enclosed footwear, gloves, eye protection
and lab coats. |
| 9.9.19 |
Persons (not necessarily in a laboratory) who come
into contact with body fluids in the course of their work must wear the
personal protective equipment described above. |
| 9.9.20 |
Sharps should be disposed of by the person who used
them, immediately after use into a container at the site of use. Sharps
should not be carried from an area of use to a different area for disposal. |
| 9.9.21 |
To prevent cross-infection, all disposable equipment
supplied is for single use only. |
| 9.9.22 |
Any waste materials contaminated with body fluids or
tissues should be disposed of in a contaminated waste container. |
| 9.9.23 |
Each laboratory must display and provide printed guidelines
on Biohazard Safety. |
| 9.9.24 |
In the event that human body fluids come in contact with
someone's mucous membranes or a break in the skin, the affected area should
be rinsed immediately. The affected person should immediately attend their
medical officer for appropriate testing and monitoring. An Incident,
Accident and Hazard Report must be completed. |
| 9.9.25 |
In the event of suffering a needle-stick injury, the affected
person should immediately squeeze the wound to express blood as this may
wash out viral particles. The person should then clean the site of injury
with disinfectant and cover the site, report the incident to the First
Aid Officer, and complete an Incident,
Accident and Hazard Report. |
| 9.9.26 |
The person who has received the needle-stick injury
or whose mucous membranes have had contact with body fluids should attend
a doctor's surgery to have a blood test, which will confirm their antibody
status at the time of the injury. Due to the long incubation periods of
these viruses, the affected person should have a follow-up blood test
after the recommended time period to determine if they have contracted
a disease. |
| 9.9.27 |
If the source of the used needle/sharp is known, that
person can be approached for an antibody test to confirm whether or not
they are infected with a transmissible disease. |
| 9.9.28 |
Counselling will be provided to meet the needs of staff and students
both pre-testing and post-testing, especially when a positive result
is likely or is returned. The University will make known the location
of Department of Health and other centres providing testing and counselling
by professionally trained counsellors and others who work with infected
individuals. [top]
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| 9.9.29 |
The basic principles of spills management are:
- standard precautions apply where there is a risk of contact with
blood or body substances;
- spills should be cleaned up before the area is disinfected; and
- aerosolation of spilled material should be avoided.
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Management of blood or body substance spills:
- Spot Cleaning - Wear disposable cleaning gloves and wipe
up spot immediately with a damp cloth, tissue or paper towel. Discard
contaminated materials to contaminated waste bin. Wash hands.
- Small Spills (up to 10 cm diameter) - Wear disposable cleaning
gloves. Eyewear and plastic apron should be worn where there is a
risk of splashing occurring. Wipe up spill immediately with absorbent
material e.g. paper hand towelling. Place contaminated absorbent material
into contaminated waste bin. Clean the area with warm water and detergent,
using disposable cleaning cloth or sponge. Where contact with bare
skin is likely disinfect area by wiping with suitable disinfectant
and allow to dry. Discard contaminated materials to contaminated waste
bin. Wash hands.
- Large Spills (greater than 10 cm diameter) - Contact Facilities
for cleaning materials and equipment. Wear disposable gloves, eyewear,
mask and plastic apron. Cover area of the spill with granular disinfectant
and leave for time specified on formulation and labeling instructions.
Use "Infectious Waste Clean-up Kit" placing all contaminated
items into impervious container or plastic bag for disposal. Wipe
area with absorbent material to remove any residue and place in contaminated
waste bin. Discard contaminated materials (Infectious Waste Clean-up
Kit) to contaminated waste bin. Clean the area with warm water and
detergent, using disposable cleaning cloth or sponge. Where contact
with bare skin is likely disinfect area by wiping with suitable disinfectant
and allow to dry. Discard contaminated materials to contaminated waste
bin. Wash hands.
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| 9.9.30 |
Staff or post-graduate students who plan to collect
human blood for the purpose of research, must complete an accredited course
in blood collection. Blood collection devices that minimise risk of contact
with blood must be used at all times. Standard precautions must be followed
wherever there is a risk of contact with human blood or body fluids. |
References
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| |
Commonwealth of Australia (2002) Infection control guidelines
for the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases in the health
care setting (draft). AGPS: Canberra.
This policy and procedure was approved by the Vice-Chancellor's
Executive on 24 March 2003. |
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