MORRISON AND MARY WILEY LIBRAY BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS POLICY

6/05/06

While normal library operations are not likely to involve circumstances exposing employees or patrons to blood borne pathogens, the Morrison and Mary Wiley Library complies with Illinois Department of Labor regulations and therefore the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations relating to occupational exposures to blood borne pathogens which have been incorporated by administrative actions.

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 or patrons, particularly youth or 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.

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 blood borne 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 known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other blood borne 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.

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 sectioned off and quarantined, even if the entire library must be closed to accomplish this completely. Personal protective clothing, such as gloves, gowns, masks, etc., shall be provided and used in the cleanup and safe disposal of contaminated waste such as diapers or blood-tinged materials (e.g. Band-Aids, gauze, cotton, clothing, 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 the employees, as soon as feasible, including following the removal of personal protective equipment. A complete record of all incidents, exposures, cleanup and disposals shall be kept as required by the regulations.

MORRISON AND MARY WILEY LIBRAY BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS POLICY (CONT.)

Training and Immunizations

The library shall provide directly or through System, State or associational programs, annual in-service training/educational programs for all 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.