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• Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) is offered to employees who may be exposed to potentially
infectious materials (PIMs) when they complete training and within 10 working days of
assignment. (Note: Employees whose exposure stems only from rendering first aid as a
collateral duty receive the vaccine after exposure.)
• Tetanus vaccines are offered to those employees who work around and are exposed to
raw sewage.
• Employees who decline the HBV vaccine must sign the declination form (contact DSC)
indicating they declined the vaccination. Anyone who declines the vaccination and
chooses to receive the vaccination at a later time may still receive the vaccination by
contacting the DSC.
• Hepatitis B and tetanus vaccinations can be requested by completing the medical
portion of the enrollment form, located under Tools & Forms at the HS&E web page, or
by contacting the regional SPA.
2.4.8.2 Work Practice Controls and PPE
• Observe universal precautions to prevent contact with blood or other PIMs. Where
differentiation between body fluid types is difficult or impossible, consider all body
fluids to be potentially infectious materials.
• Consider all sharps encountered at industrial, medical, dental, or biological waste
facilities or sampling locations to be contaminated and PIMs.
• Always wash your hands and face with soap and running water after contacting PIMs.
If washing facilities are unavailable, use an antiseptic cleanser with clean paper towels
or moist towelettes. These must be provided for employees who have been exposed to
PIMs. When antiseptic cleansers or towelettes are used, always rewash your hands and
face with soap and running water as soon as available. Do not consume food or
beverages until after thoroughly washing your hands and face.
• Decontaminate all potentially contaminated equipment and environmental surfaces
with chlorine bleach as soon as possible. Clean and decontaminate on a regular basis
(and immediately upon visible contamination) all bins, pails, cans, and other receptacles
intended for reuse that have the potential for becoming contaminated.
• Use one part chlorine bleach (5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite solution) diluted with 10
parts water for decontaminating equipment or surfaces after initially removing blood or
other PIMs. Remove contaminated PPE as soon as possible before leaving a work area.
• Place regulated waste in containers that are closable; are constructed to contain all
contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or shipping;
are labeled or color-coded; and are tightly closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or
protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.
• Employees who participate in waste characterization studies, sort or sample refuse, or
contact medical, dental, or biological wastestreams should follow these procedures:
• If exposure is anticipated, this group of employees should wear safety goggles or
glasses, puncture-resistant utility gloves with inner latex glove liners, Tyvek
coveralls or cotton coveralls with a rubber apron, and puncture-resistant shoes or
boots;
• If splash potential is present, employees should wear a full-face shield;
• If a respiratory hazard is present, a full-face respirator with HEPA filters should be
worn.
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