How to Dress for Cold Weather

On days when the air is cold, the wind is blowing, and the humidity is high or it’s raining, your clothing strategy is key to keeping you from getting a cold stress injury. Here are some tips for how to dress when the temperatures drop.

Layering lets you adjust your body’s temperature by putting on and removing items of clothing and maintaining an even comfort level as conditions or your exertion levels change. To dress for cold weather, you need three layers for maximum warmth and protection.

• Base layer: Your long underwear needs to keep your skin as dry as possible.

• Middle layer: Your fleece or puffy jacket needs to preserve as much body heat as possible.

• Outer layer: Your rain gear needs to protect you from rain and wind.

 Choosing your base/underwear layer

Warm skin starts with dry skin, so long underwear’s job is to wick perspiration away from you. Synthetic fabrics like polyesters are great at both wicking and drying. Wool is a good natural fiber option that holds its insulating abilities even when wet. Avoid cotton fabrics, as they do not retain their insulating abilities when they get wet.

Think about the fit. Wicking cannot occur in places where fabric is not touching skin, so you want a comfortably snug (not tight) fit everywhere.

Thickness or weight: Heavyweight makes sense for sub-freezing temps and low activity levels. Midweight is a good all-around choice. Lightweight is left to milder conditions.

Choosing your middle/insulating layer

This is the layer most people think about in cold conditions, so it’s not surprising that this layer’s job is to retain warmth.  Insulating materials like fleece are a good start. Make sure your jacket is a heavyweight fleece. When you are working outdoors in serious cold weather conditions, then a puffy jacket/coat should come into play. Down coats and jackets are a good standard if you are not working in wet conditions. They lose their insulating ability when they get wet. Puffy jackets/coats with synthetic fills are a better option when conditions get damp.

Insulating thickness can be tricky because you can’t rely on thickness to indicate warmth level when insulation types differ. Temperature ratings on labels are not reliable because there are too many variables (wind, rain, activity level, etc.) You can eyeball 2 jackets with identical insulation specs though and conclude that puffier equals warmer.

Full coverage: Don’t just think about jackets/coats - save some love for the legs. Keep some insulated or fleece pants with you, so your lower half can stay as warm as your top half.

Choosing your outer layer (shell coat and pants)

This is our outer line of defense. Even though it’s often referred to as “rainwear”, this layer’s job is to shield the underneath layers from snow, sleet, rain, and wind. There are 3 important attributes to consider when choosing your outer layer.

•  Precipitation protection: A wicking base layer can’t keep your skin dry if moisture is soaking you from the outside. In winter you don’t want to sacrifice any warmth to evaporation cooling. Wear a shell that is “waterproof” rather than merely “water resistant”.

• Breathable protection: Perspiration wicked by your base layer needs a way to escape. Wear a shell that is breathable, or moisture can build up inside it and soak you. You don’t need the most expensive GORE-TEX rainwear – any shell that is designated as “waterproof/breathable” should work fine.

• Windchill protection: The good news is that any shell that is “waterproof” is also “windproof”.

Shell pants- Cold, wet ankles are no fun, so be sure your boot tops are covered. If your pants don’t cover your ankles, then consider wearing a pair of gaiters.

Keeping Your Head, Hands, and Feet Warm

To prevent extremities from getting cold, cover up everywhere. The warmest options in hats, gloves, and footwear do the same thing as layers elsewhere: wick, insulate, and block rain/wind.

Hats- Wool or synthetic beanies work well, and you can rely on your shell jacket/coat’s hood for rain coverage. Full-on winter hats will have insulation inside the shell material. Make sure your headwear covers your ears. If your face is uncomfortably cold, wear a balaclava.

Gloves- Fleece gloves provide basic warmth. Insulated gloves, especially ones with waterproof/breathable shells are better. Mittens are warmer than gloves, because they share finger warmth.

Boots- with thick non-cotton socks can provide warmth when conditions are merely cold, but not wet or snowy. Waterproof boots are the next step up. Winter boots, in addition to offering traction on snow and ice, will also include insulation.

A Warmer Coat- Think of this as a twist on “cold hands, warm heart”. If your heart is warm and toasty, then it has plenty of warm blood to pump out to the hands and feet. Choose a well-insulated waterproof winter coat.

Chemical Warming Packets- Add warmth by slipping hand and foot warmers inside your gloves and socks. They come in a variety of sizes.

Additional Layering Tips for Cold Weather

Don’t wait to adjust layers: Throw on a shell at the first sign of rain or wind and remove your insulating jacket the minute you start to sweat. Staying warm and dry is easier than warming up or drying out.

Cotton is a no-no in any layer: Set aside your love of cotton flannel (or anything cotton) because it soaks up moisture and takes forever to dry out. That is a recipe for hypothermia.

Layers should play well together: Middle and outer layers need to glide on and off. When they fit too tightly over the layers beneath them, adjustments become cumbersome and you risk constricting circulation. Purchase middle and outer layers that are big enough to provide another layer (that of air) between them. This layer of air stays warm and keeps you warmer.

Taking time to make some smart decisions about your winter clothing will keep your warm and toasty and safer this winter.

Protecting Yourself from Cold Stress Illness

Workers who are exposed to extreme cold or work in cold environments may be at risk of Cold Stress. Extremely cold or wet weather is a dangerous situation that can cause occupational illness and injuries such as hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot.

Trench Foot

Any injury to the feet resulting from prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions that can occur at temperatures from 60 degrees or below, when the feet are constantly wet due to sweat or immersion in water.

Symptoms: Reddening of the skin, numbness, leg cramps, swelling, tingling pain, blisters and ulcers, bleeding under the skin, gangrene (foot turning grey, dark purple, or blue).

First Aid: Remove shoes/boots and wet socks; Dry feet thoroughly; Avoid walking on feet (may cause tissue damage) for 3-10 days as per doctor’s recommendations.

Frostbite

Any injury to the body that is caused by freezing, which most often affects the nose, cheeks, chin, ears, fingers, and toes.

Symptoms: Reduced blood flow to extremities (mentioned above), numbness, aching, tingling/stinging pain, bluish or pale waxy skin.

First Aid: Get into a warm area out of the weather ASAP; Unless necessary do not walk on frostbitten feet/toes; Immerse the affected area in warm (not hot) water, or warm the affected area with body heat. Do not use radiating heat from hot pad, furnace, electric heater, or fireplace for warming; Do not rub or massage the frostbitten area (may cause tissue damage).

Hypothermia

A condition in which the body uses up its stored energy and can no longer produce heat. Often occurs after prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.

Early Symptoms: Shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, confusion/disorientation.

Late Symptoms: No shivering, blue skin, dilated pupils, slow pulse and breathing, loss of consciousness.

First Aid: Seek immediate medical attention; Move victim into a warm room/shelter; Remove wet restrictive clothing; Warm the center of the body first (chest, neck, head, groin) using blankets or skin to skin contact under loose dry layers of blankets, towels, clothing; If the victim is conscious and lucid give them warm (not hot) non-alcoholic drinks; Once body temperature has increased, keep them dry and warm in blankets including head and neck; If no pulse, begin CPR.

Preventative Protection

Watch or listen to weather forecasts and prepare for the day:

• Monitor your physical condition and that of your co-workers

• Wear appropriate clothing for the conditions (Keep warm and dry)

• Be aware that some clothing may restrict movement putting you at greater risk due to loss of circulation; Wear loose fitting layered clothing

• Protect ears, face, hands, and feet in extremely cold, wet, windy conditions

• Take breaks in warm locations (but not overheated); Limit the amount of time outside

• Carry extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, and a thermos of warm liquid

• Include chemical hot packs in your first-aid kit

• Avoid touching cold hard objects with bare skin

Stop, Think and Act - A Useful Approach to Safety

Essentially our goal is to work safe, all day, everyday:

• Stop long enough to think about what you are about to do

• Think about how you are going to do it. Is it the safest way? If not, how can you do it better?

• Act in the safest way possible

 If you can get yourself and your coworkers to think for only a few seconds before doing anything, you can prevent a lot of injuries.

 Apply Stop, Think and Act:

These suggestions take only moments to implement, but offer lifelong benefits:

1. Start with yourself. Develop your own Stop, Think, Act habit so you are keeping yourself safe and constantly demonstrating the desired safe behavior.

2. Build it into orientation training, so that everyone hears the message from the beginning.

3. Reinforce it during your weekly or daily meetings. These meetings are an ideal opportunity for everyone to discuss hazards and how to stay safe.

4. Coach workers one on one. Before someone starts a new task, work through the Stop, Think, Act process together. Watch for people acting impulsively, they may not take into account what could go wrong. They start at point “A” and don’t think of consequences that may occur at points “B” and “C”.

Remember: Safety is everybody’s job, all day, every day.

Avoid Cross Bore Disasters

Directional drilling is a fast and efficient way to install underground pipe and conduit, but when a gas line is bored through a sewer line, disaster can ensue. 

Cross Bores – when a line bores through a sewer line – have been the cause of catastrophic events in the past. To combat this issue, municipalities, utilities, contractors, and the trenchless industry must join forces to ensure proper pre- and post-inspections are conducted and avoid disaster. 

There are almost always more connections than what surface observation suggests. The reality is that subsurface most likely there are more connections than marked after an 811 call. Municipal utilities must learn to spatially map out subsurface infrastructure during routine maintenance to improve accuracy for 811 locator requests. 

Auditory systems with GPS capabilities (SL-Rat) and CCTV Camera systems have made an incredible positive impact on finding the missing conditions. By using an auditory inspection system like the SL-Rat (OMAG has several to loan to municipalities) a municipality can map their sewer system.  Then they can use a CCTV camera (OMAG has grants available for these) through sewer mains.  In this way, line taps can be identified and recorded to inform utilities or system owners, and potential hazards can be addressed prior to drilling. Equally important is to make post-drill inspections to confirm lines have not been breached during installation of a utility. 

While gas or communication lines are typically what we think of when we hear the term cross bore, directional drilling of other utilities can negatively impact the integrity of our sewer systems as well.  

Developing a partnership between utility owners and municipalities is critical if cross boring events are to be identified and addressed to keep communities safe. Developing a comprehensive prevention program between the municipality and utility owners where they share the costs and get cross bore inspection work done economically and responsibly is a win-win for the municipality, utility, and the customers. 

NASSCO, whose mission it is to set standards for the assessment, maintenance, and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure, identified the need to set standards for proper cross bore prevention and detection. The worst thing that can happen is if an operator finds a cross bore and does nothing about it. Standard assessment and cleaning of mainlines could also potentially uncover cross bores masked by roots. If a cross bore is hiding behind roots that have infiltrated a pipe and the roots are cut, disaster could occur. A significant benefit of a regular chemical root control maintenance program is the ability to kill the roots without cutting or damaging pipes (OMAG has a root control grant with Duke’s Roots).  

In addition to municipalities and utilities working closely together, the relationship between utilities and contractors is extremely important for the implementation of a successful cross bore program. Developing a relationship with contractors laying pipe or conduits and working with them to identify hazards or challenges and working to develop unique solutions, provides better quality data and a higher level of confidence that we are keeping our communities, homes and businesses protected. 

The most common question pertaining to cross bore inspection and remediation is always “Who is responsible?”  The answer: “When is comes to keeping our community safe, we all are.” 

7 Myths About Dehydration

Myth #1: Dehydration is uncomfortable, but not dangerous.

• Fact: While most of us will only ever experience mild dehydration symptoms like headache, sluggishness, or decreased urine/sweat output, it can become severe and require medical attention. Serious complications include swelling of the brain, seizures, kidney failure, and even death, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Myth #2: If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.

• Fact: It’s not too late. In fact, thirst is the body’s way of telling you to drink water, and you are not at risk of becoming dangerously dehydrated the minute you feel parched. When you get thirsty the deficit of water in your body is trivial because your body is a very sensitive gauge. You might actually have only about a 1% reduction in your overall water. The solution is to drink some fluid, preferably water.

Myth #3: Everyone needs to drink 8 glasses of water a day.

• Fact: This general rule of thumb is outdated, influenced today mostly by bottled water companies. So how much do you need to drink? Men roughly need to drink 3 liters (102 oz.) every day, and women require about 2.2 liters (78 oz.) per day. However, body weight has a lot to do with it. A good rule of thumb is to divide your body weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of fluid per day (example: 200 lbs. = 100 ounces).

Myth #4: Clear urine is a sure sign of hydration.

• Fact: While keeping an eye on your urine output maybe isn’t the most pleasant summer activity, it really can provide a measure of how hydrated (or dehydrated) you are. But it’s not clear urine that you are looking for, rather a pale yellow. (Dehydration Urine Color Chart)

Myth #5: There is no such thing as drinking too much water.

• Fact: Over hydrating can be extremely dangerous – but it is relatively rare. Drinking too much water leads to hyponatremia, when levels of sodium in the body are so diluted your cells begin to swell. This usually causes nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion and fatigue, and can escalate to seizures and coma.

Myth #6: Exercise and hard work need sports drinks.

• Fact: If you are working out for less than an hour, water will do just fine. You don’t deplete electrolyte and glycogen reserves until you’ve been exercising intensely or performing moderate-hard work in heat and humidity for more than an hour.

Myth #7: Coffee, tea, and soft drinks dehydrate you.

• Fact: Only if you overdo it. While caffeine is dehydrating, the water in coffee, tea, and soda more than makes up for the effects, ultimately leaving you more hydrated than pre-coffee or pop. Consuming more than 3-5 cups of coffee or 40 ounces of soda could put you at risk for dehydration. Just remember to limit your caffeine input, drink in moderation and supplement with good old water. (see 5 Healthy Hydration Tips)

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac - Myth vs Fact

Myth:                Poison Ivy rash is contagious.     

Fact:                  Rubbing the rash won’t spread poison ivy to other parts of your body or to another person. You spread the rash only by transferring the urushiol oil from the plant to other body parts or individuals.

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Myth:               You can catch poison ivy simply by being near the plant.

Fact:                  Direct contact is needed to release the urushiol oil. Stay away from wildfires, direct burning, or anything else that can cause the oil to become airborne such as a lawnmower, trimmer, etc. There is a danger of inhaling the oil into your lungs, which can result in catastrophic consequences.

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Myth:                “Leaves of 3, let them be”

Fact:                  Poison sumac has 7-13 leaves on a branch, although poison ivy and poison oak do have 3 leaves per cluster.

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Myth:               Do not worry about dead plants.

Fact:                  Urushiol oil stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to 5 years.

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Myth:               Breaking the blisters releases urushiol oil that can then spread.

Fact:                  Not true. Wounds can become infected and you may make scarring worse. In very extreme cases, excessive fluid may need to be withdrawn by a doctor.

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Myth:               I’ve been in poison ivy many times and never broken out. I’m immune.

Fact:                  Not necessarily true. Upwards of 90% of people are allergic to urushiol oil, it’s a matter of time and exposure. The more times you are exposed the more likely you will break out with an allergic rash. For the first time sufferer, it generally takes longer for the rash to show up – generally 7 to 10 days.

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Help to prevent poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac is available. Though there are many products which claim to work, the following product has proven to work for about 95% of people who have used it.

Best practice for preventing Poison Ivy/Sumac: Dawn Dishwashing Soap

Within two hours of working outside around trees and bushes, thoroughly wash exposed body areas with Dawn dish soap and a wash rag. Wash and rinse thoroughly 3 times. Wash down tools and equipment with Dawn and water. Wash your clothing immediately and don’t just throw it in a hamper where it could expose others. Taking time to do these simple tasks will prevent most poison ivy/sumac rashes and reduce the number of claims pertaining to poison Ivy exposures for your municipality.

6 Things to Consider Before You Jet a Pipe

High-pressure water cleaning systems have become the tool of choice for maintaining sanitary sewer systems, because of their effectiveness in dealing with grease and sludge, along with their ability to partner with pipe inspection cameras. However, before you fire up your jetter and go off to battle underground monsters, there are six things to keep in mind.

1.    What the heck is down there?

•  Jetters do a great job on soft stoppages like grease, sand sludge, and even ice. However, when it comes to roots, they are not the preferred tool for the job. If you’re not sure what is happening in the line, you can try to send an inspection camera down to take a look, but if the line is blocked you won’t be able to see much. Remember, cameras can’t see underwater any better than you can. So how can you tell what the blockage is?

•  First, if the line in question has anything to do with food service, there is a better than even chance that grease is the problem. Using your powers of deduction, you can conclude that blockages in lines leading from restaurants, multi-family dwellings, and any kind of institution involving food service (schools, nursing homes) are likely to be made by grease and maybe rags. The same is true if the pipe in question originates in a factory or industrial facility that flushes lubricants, solvents, or any type of organic material down the drain. Also depending on where you are, sand can be a persistent problem.

 2.    Shake, Rattle, and Roll

•  Does your jetter unit have a way to vibrate the hose while it is in the pipe? The vibration function is used to break up the surface friction between the hose and the pipe, so you don’t get the hose stuck. One of the first things contractors noticed when they invented jetting some 40 years ago, was that when you connect a hydraulic hose and rear facing nozzle to a pressure washer and shove it down a pipe, there is a chance of getting the hose stuck. And anytime that happens it’s the beginning of a long day, because you’re going to need to get the excavator out. That is why every legitimate manufacturer of high-pressure jetters today has a feature that allows you to vibrate the hose while in use.

 3.    Yes, size matters

•  Are you using the correct size of hose for the pipe, you are trying to clear? Another excellent way to get your hose stuck in a pipe is by using the wrong size hose, which is surprisingly easy to do. When working with high-pressure water, the philosophy is to use the largest hose that will fit into the pipe. This is because hoses with a larger inside diameter don’t have as much pressure loss due to water friction. All things being equal, the larger the hose, the more pressure at the nozzle. The more pressure at the nozzle the easier it is to do the job.

 4.    Check your water

•  Since high-pressure water is doing the work down the line, it makes sense that you have enough of it. If you happen to be using a large device with a holding tank, such as a trailer jetter, your only challenge is to make sure the tank doesn’t run dry. Most of these units have an automatic shut-off that keeps this you from making this mistake. However, if you are using a jetter that draws water from a garden hose, a little more attention is required. Most municipal and well water systems in North America deliver approximately 5-6 gallons a minute in flow, but it is recommended that you make no assumptions. Get a 2-gallon bucket and measure how much time it takes to fill it. If you’re close, don’t take the chance, because you could accidentally starve the pump of water and cause cavitation. Cavitation is the second most popular way to kill your pump, so pay attention to details.

 5.    It don’t mean a thing if you don’t have that swing

•  Keep your hose moving. The preferred technique for jetting a line is to work the hose back and forth: push the hose 2 feet forward, then pull it back a foot, then push forward 2 feet and back a foot. The maximum cleaning action comes when you pull back the hose, not pushing it. As you pull back, the angle of water flow exiting the nozzle scours the sides of the pipe, magnifying your cleaning efforts. If you keep the hose moving, you’ll do a better job and do it in less time.

•  There is another reason to keep it moving. Because of the fluid dynamics of high-pressure water flow, turbulence can cause vortices to form just behind the nozzle when you are doing the job. These vortices, if stationary for any length of time, can suck sand, loose dirt, grease, or sludge in behind the nozzle, causing it to plug up and trap the hose down in the pipe. Getting your hose stuck in the pipe, no matter what the cause, is a bad thing. Digging it up is usually the only viable option. Again, very time consuming.

 6.    Don’t freeze up

•  Statistically, freezing is the number one way to kill your pump. If you live in a place with four seasons, you’ll find it surprisingly difficult to keep your pump from freezing when you are doing work on a frigid day. The damage can take place before, during, or after the job, and can affect your hose as well as your pump. If your unit has an antifreeze tank, please get in the habit of using it whenever temperatures are close to freezing. If your unit does not have this feature, introduce antifreeze to keep it from freezing when you are driving to and from the job. Just disconnect the hose that runs from the output valve to the hose reel swivel. Then pour antifreeze into the inlet as you start the motor on the unit, which will draw the fluid through the pump. When you notice antifreeze exiting the output valve, turn off the motor. Then, using an air compressor to blow the water out of the hose (remove the nozzle). Make sure this has been done before you drive to the job, and again before going back to the shop. During the job, limit the amount of time the units sits without water flowing through the pump. Turn the unit on frequently, running water through the bypass system to keep it warm. If you make it someone’s job to pay attention to the pump, then you’ll improve the odds of it surviving till spring.

•  You probably noticed that most of the points can be summarized by “paying attention to what you are doing” and “do your homework”. Jetters are fantastic tools for our industry, able to address most modern sewer line problems better than other tools at our disposal. But, like everything else in life, greater power comes hand in hand with greater responsibility. If you sweat the details, a jetter is an incredibly versatile and profitable tool that can transform your sewer maintenance program.

March 2019 Risk & Safety Newsletter

Cleanliness Helps Prevent Foodborne Illness

Spring has long been the time of year for annual cleaning projects around homes and offices. However, when it comes to safe food handling, everything that comes in contact with food must be kept clean all year long.

Food that is mishandled or not stored properly can lead to foodborne illness. Follow a “Be Food Safe” policy. Being food safe means preventing foodborne illness by following four easy steps:

1. Clean – wash your hands and surfaces often and disinfect with food-safe Clorox wipes or Lysol.

2. Separate – don’t cross contaminate. Keep food covered in airtight containers or sealants.

3. Cook – Cook all foods to proper temperatures and don’t let them stay out in the open air too long.

4. Chill – Refrigerate promptly.

Cleanliness is a major factor in preventing foodborne illness. Even with food safety inspections and monitoring, the consumer’s role is to make sure food is handled safely after it is purchased. Everything that touches food should be clean. Here are some suggested steps to take to help prevent foodborne illnesses:

• Wash your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds

  • Before and after handling food

  • After using the bathroom

  • After changing a diaper

  • After handling pets

  • After tending to a sick person

  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

  • After handling uncooked eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables

If your hands have any kind of skin abrasion or infection, always use clean disposable gloves. Thoroughly wash with hot soapy water any surfaces that have been in contact with raw meat, poultry, fish, or eggs. Use disposable paper towels to clean surfaces, not dishcloths or sponges. Spray or wipe surfaces with disinfectant after cleaning them.

Keep cutting boards clean, wash them with hot soapy water after each use, and then rinse and let air dry. Don’t use the same platter or utensils that held raw meat to serve the cooked product. When using a food thermometer always thoroughly wash it after each use with hot soapy water. Remember to keep pets, household cleaners, and other chemicals away from food and food preparatory stations. Keep refrigerators clean and sanitized; remove old food frequently. When eating out, eat at reputable restaurants and establishments. Avoid eating foods openly exposed in convenience stores like hotdogs, sausages, and taquitos – there are lots of germs floating around in those places.

Taking some time to “be food safe” could keep you and your co-workers or family from experiencing a very uncomfortable foodborne illness. Bon Appetit!

Bloodborne Pathogens - Protecting Workers

Every year municipalities, just like any other business, must train their employees about bloodborne pathogens. The following information can assist you in keeping your employees from contracting a bloodborne illness.

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious micro-organisms in human blood that include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. The can infect a healthy body through contact with blood and other body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat). In many cases, contact with infected fluids happens via used needles or other contaminated sharp objects that have not been properly disposed of or properly cleaned and disinfected.

Exposure Control Plan

All organizations where employees could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) must follow the bloodborne pathogens standard. Employers are responsible for determining which jobs, tasks, and procedures involve an occupational exposure. According to OSHA standards, occupational exposure is a “reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or OPIM that may result from performance of an employee’s duties.” If your workplace carries a risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, you are required to develop an exposure control plan to minimize or eliminate occupational exposures. Start by identifying all the hazards workers may be exposed to. This exposure determination needs to contain a list of jobs with potential exposure and list of procedures that could result in worker exposure. Based on this determination, you should design and implement adequate safety controls using training, providing PPE, and administrative or engineering controls.

Implementing Controls

Elimination of hazards is not feasible in some workplaces. In these situations, it is important to follow basic controls. These controls can include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Use “universal precautions”; treat all blood or OPIMs as if they were infected.

• Implement safe practice controls; update and redesign them as needed.

• Practice safe decontamination; thoroughly wash and disinfect.

• Provide personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and specialized clothing if needed. Remember employers are responsible for repairing or replacing PPE when required.

• Implement engineering controls such as sharps disposal containers or needleless systems.

• Ensure that hepatitis B immunizations are available to all workers, that they have been properly trained and understand how they could be exposed, that they know how to protect themselves from exposure, and that they know what to do if they have potentially been exposed.

• Use warning labels and signs on containers and in areas where contaminated materials may be stored.

• Keep and update worker medical and training records regularly.

• Keep and update a sharps injury log.

Other Employer Responsibilities

After any exposure incident, arrange for a post-exposure medical evaluation and make it available to affected workers. Document the reasons for exposure and test the source individual (the person whose blood or body fluids contacted the worker) for hepatitis B or hepatitis C or HIV infections. Employers are also responsible for offering the exposed worker post-exposure prophylaxis and counseling.

The municipal exposure control plan must be reviewed and updated annually to reflect any workplace changes that might affect safe work procedures. Employers should also make changes to engineering and practice controls based on input from workers.

Workers must receive regular training that covers all aspects of the exposure control plan including who to report incidents to and how to decontaminate after a potential exposure. All new hires must be trained concerning how they could be exposed in their work environment and what to do if they think they have been exposed.

Although engineering controls are the primary method of reducing exposure, behavioral training also aims to achieve this goal by changing how workers perform tasks. When providing training, consider a program that deals with the human factors. This will increase employee self-awareness and help workers see how situations like fatigue and complacency may put them, their co-workers, or families at greater risk of contracting an illness from a bloodborne pathogen. Safety needs to be addressed from all possible angles to provide workers with the best protection available.