Otsego Northern Catskills

BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Bloodborne Pathogens

Mandate:
Legislation and/or Regulation:
29 CFR Part 1910.1030

OSHA protects workers from "Bloodborne Pathogens", or diseases such as Hepatitis B and HIV, that can be transmitted through contact with blood and body fluids. Employers must designate "at risk" employees, train all staff in universal precautions, institute a post-exposure evaluation system, and offer the Hepatitis B vaccination to high-risk staff.

What the SRM Service can do to help:

Training and Workshops:
- Specific training for all staff designated as "at-risk" and for general staff on procedures for minimizing exposure to blood and body fluids, protective clothing, and when to report exposure incidents.
Services:
- Assist in developing a written Exposure Control Plan.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B can cause mild illness lasting a few weeks, or it can lead to a serious, lifelong illness.
Hepatitis B vaccine is made from parts of the hepatitis B virus. It cannot cause hepatitis B infection. The vaccine is usually given as 3 or 4 shots over a 6-month period.

All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated.

Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for unvaccinated adults who are at risk for hepatitis B virus infection

As per ONC BOCES Board Policy #7025.1,
“Employees in Categories I and II below will be offered preventative vaccines at the expense of the employer. Category III employees are not covered under the standards.”

CATEGORY I: School nurses, nurse’s aides. Certain special education teachers and assistants for pre- school, moderately and severely handicapped. Occupational education teachers in the areas of nursing or dental assistance. Employees named by the Board of Education to render first aid and medical assistance.

CATEGORY II: Certain special education teachers and LTA’s, special education counselors, special education supervisors, custodians, coaches, trainers and bus drivers.

CATEGORY III: All remaining school personnel.

If you are a Category I or II employee, and have been identified as a potential at-risk individual under the BOCES Blood-borne Pathogens policy, please indicate on the attached STATEMENT OF EMPLOYEE’S DECISION whether you wish to receive or decline the series of three (3) immunizations to protect you from Hepatitis B (HBV) virus, sign and return to the Safety and Risk office no later than September 16th of the current year. There is no cost to Category I or II employees of the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES. Again, you are reminded that our office needs the forms returned indicating your decision. If you decline, you may elect to receive this vaccine at a later date by submitting a request in writing, and it will be provided at no charge. Also, the injections are a series of three and you must receive all three to be properly protected. The immunizations will be available through the Bassett Healthcare Network or your doctor.

It is your responsibility to follow up with your supervisor for budgeting purposes.

Sign and return form to the Safety and Risk office no later than September 16th of the current year and indicate if you choose To RECEIVE the vaccine at this time or DECLINE the offered Hepatitis B vaccine.

Minimum Health Care Kits

Minimum Health Care Kits

Safety Risk Management puts together minimum health care kits to distribute to our participating districts. Please check your inventory to determine your needs for the 2017-2018 school year and return by fax, van mail or e-mail to me.

Please keep in mind if you had ordered large quantities for the past school year and have not yet used them, these kits can be used in the 2017-18 school year. All kits are dated; therefore, please check the gloves in any kits that are beyond the three-year-old mark and replace them. Be sure to replace with latex-free gloves, due to allergy issues.

There is no need to discard all the contents since the pa

per towels, storage bags and the moist towelettes should still be usable.

All minimum health care kits will be sent via van mail to your school district. As always, we certainly appreciate your patronage with our service.

Minimum health care kits to include:

1 PAIR DISPOSABLE GLOVES
2 LARGE DISPOSABLE TOWELS
1 ZIP LOCK PLASTIC BAG
1 CHLORIDE ANTISEPTIC WIPE
1 Band-Aid

To place your order, Memo-Reorder of Minimum Health Care Kits.