Bloodborne Pathogens and Exposure Prevention
Bloodborne pathogens (BBP) are disease-causing viruses, bacteria, or other organisms than can cause serious illness, and are transmitted through contact with human blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
VCU faculty, staff and students who engage in tasks that pose a potential risk of occupational exposure to human blood or OPIMs are covered under OSHA’s BBP Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030, titled "Occupational Exposure to BBP."
Identifying the Hazard and Creating an Exposure Control Plan
Workers in many roles at VCU — such as first responders, police, lifeguards, housekeeping staff, facilities staff, plumbers, clinical staff and research personnel in laboratories — who directly work with blood, body fluids and human cell lines may be at risk of exposure to BBP.
Workplaces with any type of bloodborne hazards must create and maintain a current exposure control plan (ECP), which facilitate the implementation and compliance with safety standards.
VCU Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) have developed the following ECP templates for both laboratory personnel and non-laboratory personnel.
Training
All VCU employees with occupational exposure to BBP must undergo both initial and annual training online via SciShield. In line with the ECP templates, the courses are tailored for laboratory personnel and non-laboratory personnel.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
VCU Employee Health Services offers the hepatitis B vaccination series free of charge to all employees who are or may be potentially exposed to BBP as a part of their job responsibilities and after completion of the initial BBP training (see the training section above).
Employees can also discuss their personal risk for vaccination with an Employee Health representative by calling (804) 828-0584.
VCU employees who decline the vaccination must sign a declination form available in the training module — documentation of refusal of the vaccination is stored in REDCap. Employees who initially decline may request and obtain the vaccination at a later date at no cost.
In the event of an exposure
In the event of an injury involving an exposure to blood or other potentially-infectious materials through the eyes, nose, mouth or broken skin, the employee must promptly complete all four steps below:
- Flush the exposed area with water and gently clean any shallow wound with soap and water. If running water is not accessible, use a skin disinfectant.
- Seek medical evaluation
- VCU employees
- Dial 804-828-4999, then dial 4508 when prompted and enter your callback number. The PEP team will call the provided callback number
- This pager is covered 24/7/365.
- Page the Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) team (PAGER #4508)
- During business hours (Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.): VCU Employee Health Services can be contacted via phone at (804) 828-0584.
- Students
- MCV Campus: (804) 828-9220, 1000 E. Marshall St. (VMI Building), 3rd Floor, Suite 305
- Dial 804-828-4999, then dial 4508 when prompted and enter your callback number. The PEP team will call the provided callback number.
- Report the exposure to VCU Medical Center Student Health Clinic their next working day for labs and follow up care.
- During business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.): Contact Student Health Services:
- After hours, on weekends and holidays, page the PEP team.
- Obtain exposure labs on source (if source is available).
- The PEP Team can provide guidance on this process, if needed.
- Notify your supervisor and report the injury or illness by completing an Injury Form via the Injury Reporting Portal. Learn more here.
Exposure reporting
VCU employees who are exposed to a bloodborne pathogen or other potentially infectious material while at work must report the incident to VCU Human Resources (HR) by completing the First Report of Accident Form. For more information and a link to the form, visit the VCU HR website.
Additionally, incidents involving rDNA material must be reported to the VCU Biosafety Office within 24 hours of occurrence. Report the occurrence by emailing the BioSafety Office (biosafety@vcu.edu).
Report sharps related injuries to the PEP team by paging 4508 immediately after the incident. Complete the Injury Report available through the OHS portal.
Spill Clean up
In the event of a body fluid spill that is beyond a minor first aid injury:
- Refer to biological spills page for spill cleanup instructions and more information.
- Submit supply requests for medical waste items clean up via the VCU Facilities Management Facilities Self Service. After logging in using your VCU credentials, under the "Problem Type" field, select “Custodial."
Waste Disposal
To properly dispose of waste that is contaminated with blood and/or body fluids, please follow the procedures on the biohazardous waste management page.
Infectious Waste Management Standard Operating Procedures
For more information on bloodborne pathogens, or if you are an employee who needs to request a sharps container, replacement biohazard bags or a pickup of regulated biohazard waste, please see: