Code: JHCCBA/EBBAB/GBEBAA
Adopted:11/19/02
Revised/Readopted: 4/18/17; 8/08/17
Orig. Code(s):  JHCCBA/EBBAB/GBEBAA

The Board recognizes that staff/students incur some risk of infection and illness each time they are exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials. While the risk to staff/students of exposure to body fluids due to casual contact with individuals in the school environment is very low, the Board regards any such risk as serious. 

Consequently, the Board directs adherence to standard precautions. Standard precautions require that staff and students approach infection control as if all direct contact with human blood and body fluids is known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and/or other bloodborne pathogens1. 

In order to reduce the risk to staff/students by minimizing or eliminating staff exposure incidents to bloodborne pathogens, the Board directs the superintendent to develop and implement an Exposure Control Plan. The plan shall be reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary to reflect new or modified tasks and procedures which affect occupational exposure and to reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure. The review and update shall also: 

1. Reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens; 

2. Annually, document consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure. 

The plan shall include training followed by an offer of immunization with Hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series for all staff who are required to provide first aid to students and/or for all staff who have occupational exposure as determined by the Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD).  Training shall be provided at the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place and at least annually thereafter. Personal protective equipment appropriate to job tasks shall be provided by the NWRESD. A post-exposure evaluation and follow-up shall be made available to any employee sustaining an occupational exposure. 

The NWRESD recognizes that, as required by Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 437-002-1030, employees who use medical sharps in the performance of their duties (e.g., administering injectable medicines to students, such as epinephrine and glucagon) must, at least annually, be provided with the opportunity to identify, evaluate and select engineering and work practice controls (e.g., sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing needles, safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered sharps injury protections and needleless systems). The NWRESD will implement such work practice controls, as appropriate.

END OF POLICY 

¹“Bloodborne pathogens” are defined as pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Documentation, including a sharps injury log, will be maintained as required by OAR 437-002-1035 and 437-002-1030(3).

Legal Reference(s): 

• OAR 333-022-0410 to -0415 
• OAR 437-002-0360 
• OAR 437-002-0377 
• OAR 437-002-1030 
• OAR 437-002-1035 
• Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Bloodborne Pathogens, 29 C.F.R. §1910.1030. 

Cross Reference(s): 

• EBBAB/GBEBAA/JHCCBA - HBV/Bloodborne Pathogens 
• GBEBAA/JHCCBA/EBBAB - HBV/Bloodborne Pathogens