Forty years ago, the OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, developed a new standard to protect workers from danger. The bar was then revised twenty-one years ago and went into greater detail for employers to understand and implement safer medical devices for workers to use. They also added additional requirements to protect workers from getting sick and exposing themselves to dangerous and harmful diseases.
The Standard Coverage
Standard 5193 applies to all employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other infectious materials that can make them sick. This can cover everything from saliva, blood, and organs to mucous and skin membranes. The standard does not apply to agriculture or construction, nor does it apply to volunteers. If you are in these fields, you will need to be especially careful to avoid exposure.
The bloodborne pathogens standard is tricky to understand, and the first question most people have is what bloodborne pathogens are? People get confused about what they are because there is a lot of misinformation. They are a type of virus or bacteria that is spread by contact. That means if someone is infected and you touch their blood or bodily fluids, you will get infected as well. Examples of this include hepatitis and HIV.
A Treatment Option For Bloodborne Pathogens
Another popular question about bloodborne pathogens is if they are treatable. In many cases, they are not. Medication may prevent your illness from getting worse, at least for a while, but in many cases, the virus will never be eliminated entirely. At least not yet.
With a disease like HIV, for example, the virus stays with you destroying your immune system, and you will slowly get sicker as your immune system loses its ability to fight off infection. Science has made great strides in this area, and there have been significant studies about bloodborne pathogens and treatment options, but unfortunately for those infected, it hasn’t been perfected yet.
Avoiding The Illness
Once people understand what bloodborne pathogens are, they want to know how to avoid getting them in their system. The best way to prevent this is to avoid exposing yourself to blood or bodily fluids. Blood should be screened to ensure that it is safe, and you should practice safe and proper hygiene and the use of the appropriate personal protective equipment. Keep yourself safe and away from harm by exercising caution when you see blood or other fluids.
Read More: 7 Major Tips for Lowering Your Blood Pressure
Keep Yourself Protected
Now that you know bloodborne pathogens, you can be protected and ensure that the disease does not find you. By being careful at work, you can avoid the blood or skin, bodily fluids, or infected persons. Just remember, you can’t tell by looking if someone has a disease, and you will need to be cautious to avoid getting hurt. If you find that you have been exposed, seek medical attention at once to ensure you can stay healthy and keep continuing with your life the way you want to and the way you are used to.
