First Responders: Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
July 2008
First responders are at risk for occupational
exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including
hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Exposure incidents may occur through the
following:
Needlesticks or cuts from sharp objects
contaminated with another person’s
blood.
Contact of the eyes, mouth, nose, or
broken skin with blood or other potentially
infectious body fluids.
Some employees are reluctant to report
exposure incidents. Encourage your
employees to report all exposures.
This way, you can carry out your responsibility
to take appropriate post-exposure actions to
protect your workers, their families, and the
public against infection from bloodborne
pathogens.
Why Are Employees Reluctant to Report Exposures?
Although rates of underreporting
are difficult to ascertain, studies
estimate that high percentages
of workers do not report all
exposures.
Employees give many reasons for
not reporting exposures:
They do not think they will get
an infection from the exposure.
They think the exposure may
have been their fault.
They were not wearing the
proper personal protective
equipment.
They are embarrassed by the
exposure incident.
They think it takes too much
time away from work to report.
They think reporting may result
in a negative performance
evaluation.
They fear losing their job.
They think that wiping blood or
other body fluids off their skin is
sufficient.
They are not sure whether
certain incidents should be
considered exposures.
Are some of your workers failing to report exposures for these reasons?
Encourage your workers to report possible exposure incidents as soon as possible.
Why Should Employees Report All Exposures?
First, reporting exposures to blood or potentially infectious body fluids will help protect your workers, their families, and the public. It allows you to provide appropriate, prompt, medical assessment and treatment.
Second, by documenting exposures, you can identify causes and prevent them from occurring again. This keeps your workers on the job, reducing costs in the long run.
A vital tool in the fight against bloodborne pathogens.
How Can You Encourage Reporting?
Establish a policy that all potential exposures must be
reported!
Identify and address issues, workplace culture, or
barriers that discourage reporting.
Make sure employees know what an exposure is.
Explain the risks of infection.
Establish an easy-to-use system for reporting and
evaluating exposures.
Ensure reports are handled promptly and confidentially.
Make sure all employees and managers understand the
department’s reporting protocol.
Cover reporting procedures in the initial and annual
bloodborne pathogens training.
Regularly remind your workers to promptly report all
potential bloodborne pathogens exposures.
Assure your employees that reporting an exposure will not
affect their job or performance evaluation.
Keep a record of exposures. Look for patterns of exposure
and seek solutions to prevent future exposures.
Show workers how reporting helps prevent future
exposures.
Get the word out! Tell your employees about the
policy, the steps you are taking to implement it, and
how they can help.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH)
Bloodborne Pathogens Web site and phone
number: www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/
1-800-CDC-INFO
To receive NIOSH documents or information about
occupational safety and health topics contact NIOSH at
Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636)
TTY: 1–888–232–6348
E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
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DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008–118