The following steps can minimise the risk of exposure to blood products and any associated bloodborne viruses (BBVs).
They will not all be necessary in every situation. Additional steps may be needed if an activity creates a higher risk of exposure.
Applying existing infection control precautions in a healthcare setting may be sufficient. You can find guidance on precautions to manage the risks of infection from patients (on NHS.UK).
Hygiene protocols in other workplaces which are likely to include hand washing, glove use and other personal protective equipment (PPE) may also be sufficient.
Avoid and reduce contact with blood or body fluids
Consider whether the work activity could be designed in such a way that direct contact with blood is avoided. For example, consider the use of equipment such as tongs or tweezers to handle any blood contaminated materials to prevent direct contact and the decontamination of material before handling.
Hygiene
Apply good, basic hygiene practices, including hand washing, before and after glove use, and avoid hand-to-mouth/eye contact.
Disposable gloves should never be washed and reused, as they may deteriorate during use and in washing.
Control surface contamination by blood and body fluids by selecting surfaces, for example couches and seats that are designed to be impervious, smooth and easily cleaned by wiping. Consider the use of disposable covers for surfaces that may be contaminated. There is more guidance on methods of decontamination.
Personal protective equipment
Avoid contaminating the person or clothing by using waterproof or water-resistant protective clothing, a plastic apron. Wear rubber boots or plastic disposable overshoes when the floor or ground is likely to be contaminated.
Protect the eyes and mouth by using a visor or goggles or safety spectacles and a mask when splashing is a possibility. For example, some surgical procedures may be prone to creating splashes.
Protect breaks in exposed skin by using waterproof dressings and/or gloves. Chain mail and armoured gloves can protect the hands when working with sharp instruments or during some surgical procedures.
There is more guidance on personal protective equipment against bloodborne viruses. This includes more detailed advice on using gloves as protection.
Avoiding injuries from sharps or sharp edges
Take necessary precautions to prevent puncture wounds, cuts and abrasions in the presence of blood and body fluids by avoiding the use of:
- sharps and equipment with sharp edges or
- objects that could create sharp edges if broken, for example glass or metals
Consider the use of safer sharps and disposable sharps. Discard sharps directly into an appropriate sharps container immediately after use, and at the point of use. There is more guidance on avoiding needlestick or sharps injuries.
Have arrangements in place for the safe disposal of sharps or disposal of any contaminated materials. You can find more guidance on the disposal of waste.
Responding to exposure incidents
You must have arrangements in place for responding to any exposure incidents. These should include:
- the initial management of a potential workplace exposure to a BBV
- establishing when further management of the incident will require specialist knowledge and expertise
Find out more on how to deal with an exposure incident.
Occupational health
Consider occupational health requirements – there is more guidance on legislation on bloodborne viruses, which includes information about heath surveillance and health records.