This show is fully narrated, make sure computer volume is turned up. There is no need to click any keys or buttons, the show will advance automatically!

Biological Hazards Control Safety, Security and Emergency Management

What’s in This Package This material is intended as a review for GVRD employees who may be exposed to Biological Hazards in the workplace, and who have had previous education about Biological Hazards.

Select the Show You Would Like to See Biohazard Basics Universal Precautions / Routine Practices Biohazardous Material Handling Click here to watch all three!

What is a Biohazard? “A Pathogenic organism that may cause disease in humans” – from GVRD Biohazard Control Standard

Different Biological Hazards  Bacteria E. coli E. coli Salmonella Salmonella

Different Biological Hazards  Bacteria

Different Biological Hazards  Bacteria  Fungi Mould Mould Yeast Yeast

Different Biological Hazards  Bacteria  Fungi  Viruses Hepatitis Hepatitis HIV HIV

Different Biological Hazards  Bacteria  Fungi  Viruses  Parasites Giardia Giardia Cryptosporidium Cryptosporidium

Different Biological Hazards  Bacteria  Fungi  Viruses  Parasites  Endotoxins Given off when bacteria die Given off when bacteria die

Possible Health Effects  Exposure to biohazards can cause: Nail & Hair disease Nail & Hair disease

Possible Health Effects  Exposure to biohazards can cause: Nail & Hair disease Nail & Hair disease Skin Disease/Infection Skin Disease/Infection

Possible Health Effects  Exposure to biohazards can cause: Nail & Hair disease Nail & Hair disease Skin Disease/Infection Skin Disease/Infection Respiratory Infections Respiratory Infections

Possible Health Effects  Exposure to biohazards can cause: Nail & Hair disease Nail & Hair disease Skin Disease/Infection Skin Disease/Infection Respiratory Infections Respiratory Infections Eye Infections Eye Infections

Possible Health Effects  Exposure to biohazards can cause: Nail & Hair disease Nail & Hair disease Skin Disease/Infection Skin Disease/Infection Respiratory Infections Respiratory Infections Eye Infections Eye Infections Gastrointestinal Illness Gastrointestinal Illness

Possible Health Effects  Exposure to biohazards can cause: Nail & Hair disease Nail & Hair disease Skin Disease/Infection Skin Disease/Infection Respiratory Infections Respiratory Infections Eye Infections Eye Infections Gastrointestinal Illness Gastrointestinal Illness Other Diseases such as Hepatitis A Other Diseases such as Hepatitis A

Possible Health Effects Exposure to biohazards can cause short term or long term (chronic) illness

Where can they be found? Biological hazards can be found in potentially infectious body fluids: Blood (Blood-borne Pathogens)Blood (Blood-borne Pathogens) Feces & UrineFeces & Urine Semen & Vaginal SecretionsSemen & Vaginal Secretions SalivaSaliva

Where can they be found?  Biological hazards can be found in: Washrooms Washrooms Garbage Garbage Landscaping/Gardens Landscaping/Gardens Laundry Laundry Raw wastewater Raw wastewater …and almost anywhere else! …and almost anywhere else!

Routes of Entry / Exposure Inhalation Inhalation Ingestion Ingestion Contact Contact mucous membranes mucous membranes broken skin (non-intact) broken skin (non-intact) Injection Injection contaminated sharps / syringes contaminated sharps / syringes

How to Protect Yourself  Hierarchy of controls: EngineeringEngineering use of tools & specially designed containers use of tools & specially designed containers

How to Protect Yourself  Hierarchy of controls: EngineeringEngineering use of tools & specially designed containers use of tools & specially designed containers AdministrativeAdministrative Routine Practices Routine Practices ECPs ECPs

How to Protect Yourself  Hierarchy of controls: EngineeringEngineering use of tools & specially designed containers use of tools & specially designed containers AdministrativeAdministrative Routine Practices Routine Practices ECPs ECPs PPEPPE Gloves, goggles, coveralls, respirators, etc. Gloves, goggles, coveralls, respirators, etc.

For More Information  GVRD Biohazard Control Standard Available from the SSEM intranet site. Available from the SSEM intranet site.  HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B and C, Preventing Exposure at Work Available from the WorkSafeBC website publications web page at Available from the WorkSafeBC website publications web page at

Universal Precautions / Routine Practices Routine Practices = Good Personal Hygiene

Universal Precautions / Routine Practices 1. Treat all potentially infectious material as infectious. 2. Potentially contaminated clothes and PPE should be changed or removed before:  Eating, drinking or smoking  Entering common meeting rooms  Going home after work 3. Proper hand washing is key!

Hand Washing  When should you wash your hands? Before you eat, drink, or smoke Before you eat, drink, or smoke Before and After using the restroom Before and After using the restroom Before and After blowing your nose Before and After blowing your nose After removing gloves After removing gloves When you leave the work area When you leave the work area

What is Proper Hand Washing? Wash for at least seconds Position hands lower than arms (no backflow) Wet hands with warm running water Apply soap & lather well Rub hands together 5-6 times in each position Palm to palm Palm to palm

What is Proper Hand Washing? Wash for at least seconds Position hands lower than arms (no backflow) Wet hands with warm running water Apply soap & lather well Rub hands together 5-6 times in each position Palm to palm Palm to palm Palms over back with fingers interlaced Palms over back with fingers interlaced

What is Proper Hand Washing? Wash for at least seconds Position hands lower than arms (no backflow) Wet hands with warm running water Apply soap & lather well Rub hands together 5-6 times in each position Palm to palm Palm to palm Palms over back with fingers interlaced Palms over back with fingers interlaced Back of fingers to palm (hands interlaced) Back of fingers to palm (hands interlaced)

What is Proper Hand Washing? Wash for at least seconds Position hands lower than arms (no backflow) Wet hands with warm running water Apply soap & lather well Rub hands together 5-6 times in each position Palm to palm Palm to palm Palms over back with fingers interlaced Palms over back with fingers interlaced Back of fingers to palm (hands interlaced) Back of fingers to palm (hands interlaced) Rotating thumb in palm Rotating thumb in palm

What is Proper Hand Washing? Wash for at least seconds Position hands lower than arms (no backflow) Wet hands with warm running water Apply soap & lather well Rub hands together 5-6 times in each position Palm to palm Palm to palm Palms over back with fingers interlaced Palms over back with fingers interlaced Back of fingers to palm (hands interlaced) Back of fingers to palm (hands interlaced) Rotating thumb in palm Rotating thumb in palm Scratching or rotating the fingertips in the palm Scratching or rotating the fingertips in the palm

Good Skin Care  Maintain healthy skin by: Using lotion to keep skin moisturized Using lotion to keep skin moisturized Wearing gloves Wearing gloves Taking good care to treat & protect any cuts/scrapes Taking good care to treat & protect any cuts/scrapes  Remember to log any injuries to the skin in the First Aid Book

Other Precautions  Vaccinations* Only available for some biohazards Only available for some biohazards Not to be relied on since there are many other hazards Not to be relied on since there are many other hazards Basic ones should be kept current (tetanus) Basic ones should be kept current (tetanus) GVRD will pay for Hepatitis A & B shots if you wish to have them GVRD will pay for Hepatitis A & B shots if you wish to have them Ask your supervisor about it* Ask your supervisor about it* * Always talk to your doctor about vaccinations first!

It’s Your Responsibility  You have responsibility to protect the health of: Your familyYour family YourselfYourself Your co-workersYour co-workers The publicThe public  Following safe work procedures and using routine practices will help to minimize the spread of infectious disease to yourself and those around you.

For More Information  Talk to Your Supervisor  Consult Safe Work Procedures  Talk to your GVRD Safety Advisor  “GVRD Biohazard Control Standard” Available from the SSEM intranet site.Available from the SSEM intranet site.  “HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B and C, Preventing Exposure at Work” Preventing Exposure at Work” Available from the WorkSafeBC website publications web page atAvailable from the WorkSafeBC website publications web page at

Handling Biohazardous Material  All potentially biohazardous material must be considered as a biohazard  Safe Work Procedures and Personal Protective Equipment are key

Handling Biohazardous Material  Cleaning up Blood (or other body fluids)  Disposing of Needles (and other sharps)  Removing disposable gloves

Cleaning Blood Spills  Be prepared with the following equipment and supplies on hand: Disposable gloves Disposable gloves Splash-proof goggles Splash-proof goggles A 1:10 Household Bleach (5%) to Water solution A 1:10 Household Bleach (5%) to Water solution Disposable towels Disposable towels Plastic garbage bags Plastic garbage bags

Cleaning Blood Spills  Put on goggles (if necessary) and disposable gloves  Prepare the garbage bag to receive the soiled towels and gloves by “double bagging”

Cleaning Blood Spills  Place the towels over the spill

Cleaning Blood Spills  Place the towels over the spill

Cleaning Blood Spills  Place the towels over the spill

Cleaning Blood Spills  Place the soiled towels in the garbage bag

Cleaning Blood Spills  Soak or spray the spill area with the bleach solution

Cleaning Blood Spills  Allow the solution to stand for at least 10 minutes to disinfect  Clean the area as usual

Cleaning Blood Spills  Remove disposable gloves

Sharps Disposal  Sharps may be used needles or other sharp objects that may be contaminated with a biohazardous material  Sharps must be properly disposed of to protect the health of you and others

Be Prepared Disposable gloves

Be Prepared Tongs for Handling Sharps

Be Prepared Sharps Disposal Container

Sharps Disposal  Procedures: Bring the sharps disposal container to the sharp you are picking up Bring the sharps disposal container to the sharp you are picking up

Sharps Disposal  Procedures: Prepare the container to receive the sharp Prepare the container to receive the sharp

Sharps Disposal  Procedures: Use the tongs! Don’t try to handle sharps with your hands Use the tongs! Don’t try to handle sharps with your hands

Sharps Disposal  Procedures: Do not try to bend the tips of needles! Do not try to bend the tips of needles!

Sharps Disposal  Procedures: Drop the sharp into the container pointy end down Drop the sharp into the container pointy end down

Sharps Disposal  Procedures: Clean tools and equipment with 1:10 bleach to water solution Clean tools and equipment with 1:10 bleach to water solution Remove disposable gloves using safe removal procedures Remove disposable gloves using safe removal procedures

Sharps Disposal When the sharps disposal container has become full or contains a significant number of sharps, it must be properly disposed of.

Sharps Disposal  Contact your Supervisor, or  Take the container to the Lake City Operations Center Stores, and deposit the container in the disposal barrel.

Removing Disposable Gloves  Grasp the top portion of one glove, near the wrist, in a pinch grip

Removing Disposable Gloves  Pull the glove off of your hand so that it ends up inside-out

Removing Disposable Gloves  Hold the loose glove in your remaining gloved hand

Removing Disposable Gloves  Insert the fingers of your un-gloved hand into the wrist of the remaining glove

Removing Disposable Gloves  Pull the glove inside-out

Removing Disposable Gloves  Dispose of the gloves in a sealed garbage bag

For More Information  Talk to Your Supervisor  Consult Safe Work Procedures  Talk to your GVRD Safety Advisor  “GVRD Biohazard Control Standard” Available from the SSEM intranet site.Available from the SSEM intranet site.  “HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B and C, Preventing Exposure at Work” Preventing Exposure at Work” Available from the WorkSafeBC website publications web page atAvailable from the WorkSafeBC website publications web page at