Cleaning services and bloodborne pathogens training go hand in hand. While you might be used to cleaning dried gum or old food, you need to know how to protect others from bloodborne pathogens. Cuts, scrapes, fights, and accidents can all lead to you needing to clean up blood and other bodily fluids. These can be the source of bloodborne pathogens, which are a safety hazard. What are bloodborne pathogens and how do you clean them? Keep reading to find out.
What Are Bloodborne Pathogens?
Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms that are spread through blood. For example, HIV, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis B are all bloodborne pathogens. These diseases are spread by the infected bodily fluids entering the bloodstream of a non-infected person.
These pathogens spread in a variety of ways. The most common ways are needles, cuts, human bites, and mucous membranes. For example, if you are taking out the trash and get poked with a dirty or used needle, you may be exposed to a bloodborne pathogen.
Any cleaning situation where you have to deal with blood runs the risk of bloodborne pathogens spreading. To clean things properly, bloodborne pathogen training is required.
Bloodborne Pathogen Training
OSHA created bloodborne pathogen training to explain how to clean bodily fluids.
Bloodborne pathogen training will give you a detailed explanation of what kind of personal protective equipment you should wear when cleaning bodily fluids. The training will also walk you through how to properly clean up and dispose of bodily fluids that contaminate an area.
This training will also cover what certain signage means and what to be aware of when working in those signage areas. For example, specific bins dedicated to needle disposal should be handled differently.
You will also be made aware of what circumstances you are working with. For example, how to handle a biohazard thrown into a garbage can instead of where it should go.
The Importance of Cleaning Services & Bloodborne Pathogens Training
Bloodborne pathogen training should be provided by your employers since you need it to do your job properly. This training is one of the most important experiences for a janitorial or cleaning staff to go through, especially if you work in a hospital environment.
You act as the first line of defense after blood, or another bodily fluid contaminates an area. If left uncleaned, bloodborne pathogens could spread to other people. This can cause serious illness.
If you can clean up and dispose of the bodily fluids before a bloodborne pathogen gets the opportunity to spread, you could save lives.
Sign Your Team Up for Bloodborne Pathogen Training
Bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted by infected bodily fluids entering the bloodstream. HIV, Hep C, and Hep B can all pose serious, long-term health risks if someone is exposed.
Cleaning services and bloodborne pathogen training are vital to keeping our environment safe for everyone. Cleaning services are the first line of defense against bloodborne pathogens. Completing clear and concise bloodborne pathogen training is the best way to make your team ready to create a clean environment.
