OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - OSHA is a Federal agency whose primary function is to oversee the health and well being of all employee’s in the United State. The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard is a FEDERAL LAW. Bloodborne Pathogen Standard - Applies to all employee’s who may come in contact with blood or other potentially infectious body fluids as a result of their job duties. Since the Department of Early Education requires all child care staff to have First Aid, this standard would apply to them. THIS IS NOT A DEEC REGULATION! Center Based or Family Providers - Since the standard only applies to employee’s, the standard does not apply to individual family providers, since they are self employed. However, if a family provider has someone who works for them, if they are required to have First Aid then the standard applies. The employer has an obligation, under Federal law to provide the training to their employee, even if that employee is a volunteer. Regardless of whether or not the standard applies, the information surrounding the potential spread of Bloodborne Pathogens is essential to all child care workers. Standard Elements:
Universal Precautions - Universal Precautions is the basic principle of OSHA training. Universal precautions means that you should treat everyone all of the time like they could potentially be the carrier of a disease. The intent of Universal Precautions is to limit the spread of all illnesses by treating everyone as a potentially infected person. Universal Precautions are guidelines to follow whenever you come in contact with blood or other body fluids that could possibly carry germs and bacteria. The purpose is to prevent direct exposure to potentially infectious blood and body fluids, to control infections that ar transmitted by these substances. |