The following guidelines are general and generic in nature for
all York County operations. For specific protocols, refer to the policy
and procedure of the department concerned, most of which have case-specific
guidelines for their staff and clients. The following list of departments
contains those that are most likely to be affected by this policy
and which have their own guidelines in place:
B. Children and Youth Services.
F. Emergency Management Agency.
H. Mental Health-Mental Retardation (MH-MR); Drug and Alcohol.
M. Youth Development Center.
The purpose of this policy is to provide York County personnel
with information concerning infectious disease in an effort to increase
safety on the job. The guidelines and procedures established by this
policy shall be followed as a precaution to or in the event of occupational
exposure to infectious disease. This policy was written in accordance
with universal precautions for preventing the transmission of infectious
disease in the workplace.
This policy applies to all employees of York County who may
be at risk of exposure and is effective immediately. It is the responsibility
of each employee to read, understand and adhere to all information
contained herein. Any questions should be directed to the Risk Manager.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME)
An illness characterized by one or more opportunistic infections
or cancers associated with immune deficiency. The disease attacks
the body's natural immune system, reducing a person's ability
to fight off infections and disease.
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
Disease-carrying microorganisms that are present in human
blood and can cause disease in humans; these include, but are not
limited to, HIV and HBV.
BODY FLUIDS
Fluids that may create a risk of exposure to HIV, HBV or
other bloodborne diseases. These fluids include blood; semen; vaginal
secretions; and peritoneal, cerebrospinal, synovial, pleura, pericardial
and amniotic fluids, but specifically exclude nasal secretions, saliva,
sweat, tears, urine, feces and vomit, unless blood-tinged.
GLOVES
Surgical-type latex or nylon disposable gloves.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
A disease capable of being passed to another by contact with
an infected individual or his or her body fluids.
INMATE
Any person legally in the custody of the York County Sheriff's
Department or Prison.
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
Reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane or parenteral
contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that
may result from the performance of an employee's duties.
POCKET MASK
A plastic face mask with one-way valve used for cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
An approach to infection control whereby all human blood
and certain body fluids are treated as infectious.
Any incident involving an employee, client or equipment exposed
to blood and/or body fluids must be followed up by the utilization
of the appropriate procedures established by this policy. All incidents
of such exposure must be reported to immediate supervisor, documented
and submitted on an exposure incident form.
For a more comprehensive understanding of the rationale of this
policy, the following is a partial list of references:
A. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: 100 Questions and Answers, National
Sheriffs' Association.
B. AIDS: Improving the Response of the Correctional System, National
Institute of Corrections, United States Department of Justice.
C. AIDS and the Law Enforcement Officer: Concerns and Policy Responses,
National Institute of Justice, United States Department of Justice,
by Abt Associates, Inc.
D. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Rules, Pathfinders Associates, Inc.
E. Confidentiality of HIV-Related Information Act, Act of 1990, P.L.
585, No. 148, United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety
and Health Administration.
F. Worker Exposure to AIDS and Hepatitis B, United States Department
of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
G. Guide to Developing and Managing an Emergency Service Infection Control
Program, United States Fire Administration, March 1992, FA-112.