UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH POLICY 06-01-03



CATEGORY:        HEALTH AND SAFETY
SECTION:         Health
SUBJECT:         Bloodborne Pathogens
EFFECTIVE DATE:  January 31, 1995
PAGE(S):         2
     
     
     It is the policy of the University of Pittsburgh to limit or
     prevent occupational or student exposure to blood and other
     potentially infectious materials (as defined below) and to
     provide certain treatment following any such exposure.  This
     document serves to clarify the University program for education,
     prevention, post-exposure medical treatment and follow-up1
     provided for employees and students who have been exposed to
     bloodborne pathogens as a part of workplace or other programmed
     activity.
     
I.   DEFINITIONS
     
     A.   Bloodborne Pathogens means pathogenic microorganisms that
          are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans.
          These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B
          virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
     
     B.   Occupational Exposure means reasonably anticipated skin,
          eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or
          other potentially infectious materials that may result from
          the performance of employees' duties or students' programmed
          activities.
     
     C.   Other Potentially Infectious Materials means:
     
          1.   the following human body fluids:
          
               semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid,
               synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid,
               peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental
               procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated
               with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it
               is difficult or impossible to differentiate between
               body fluids;
          
          2.   any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin)
               from a human (living or dead); and
          
          3.   HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures,
               and HIV or HBV-containing culture medium or other
               solutions; and blood, organs, or other tissues from
               experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV.
     
II.  POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

     The University shall provide education and prophylactic
     guidelines to employees and students who may be exposed to
     bloodborne pathogens.  This action shall be described in detail
     in the University's Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
     (ECP).
     
     University employees and students shall have access to treatment
     and follow-up of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.  Employee
     treatment is specified by the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1030 (f)
     (3), Workers' Compensation and the University Exposure Control
     Plan.  Treatment costs will be subject to payment under the
     University's Workers' Compensation policy and procedures.

     Students who are not employees are not covered by OSHA standards
     or Workers' Compensation, but will have access to appropriate
     evaluation and treatment of exposures through referral centers
     identified below, and at the student's or student's health
     insurer's expense.  Students who enroll in a University
     programmed activity where exposure to human blood or Other
     Potentially Infectious Materials is probable or possible must
     carry health insurance validated each term that will cover
     payment of treatment and follow-up procedures.
     
     With the exception of students enrolled in the Schools of the
     Health Sciences (Dental Medicine, Graduate School of Public
     Health, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Health and
     Rehabilitation Sciences), the use of unpreserved human blood
     and/or Other Potentially Infectious Materials and primate blood
     and/or Other Potentially Infectious Materials shall be excluded
     from all undergraduate courses and laboratory work.  Petitions
     for exemptions from this rule can be made by the course
     instructor to the Biohazards Committee.
     
               HBV IMMUNIZATION AND PREVENTIVE TRAINING
     
     Before engaging in a University programmed activity where
     exposure to human blood and/or Other Potentially Infectious
     Materials is probable or possible, each employee and each student
     must present either evidence of HBV immunization, or serologic
     evidence of a protective antibody titer against hepatitis B virus
     disease (HBV) and undergo training to prevent or minimize
     exposure.  Hepatitis B immunization is available to University
     employees without charge.  Students should check with their
     health insurers about coverage of, or reimbursement for, HBV
     immunization.  Employees or students who want to forego such
     immunization must sign a formal disclaimer statement.
     
                          EXPOSURE FOLLOW-UP
     
     Any University employee or student who believes that he or she
     may have had an exposure to blood, body fluids, or Other
     Potentially Infectious Materials should:
     
     1.   Promptly report to one of the designated referral centers
          approved by the Occupational and Environmental Medicine
          Clinic, University of Pittsburgh and listed in the
          University Exposure Control Plan;
     
     2.   Provide information to the licensed health care provider at
          the referral center about the circumstances under which the
          possible exposure occurred; and
     
     3.   Complete and submit the appropriate accident and/or Workers'
          Compensation report in accordance with University policy.
     
     Evaluation of the exposure and recommendations for follow-up will
     be provided at the referral centers.  Any questions should be
     directed to the Environmental Health and Safety Office, telephone
     624-9544.
_______________________________
1Post-exposure medical treatment and follow-up as defined in the OSHA
Standard.