People in all lines of work need to protect themselves from being exposed to infectious diseases or serious illnesses. If you work in the healthcare sector, you may find yourself exposed to potentially harmful fluids daily. In this case, you need to educate yourself about the potential side effects of catching diseases, preventative measures, and what to do if you become infected.

One of the first steps of being healthy and caring for contagious and infectious diseases is knowing harmful conditions that can be transferred via bodily fluids.

Let’s discuss how infectious microorganisms can lead to long-term diseases and how to avoid becoming infected during your daily life.

Why do I need a bloodborne pathogens certification?

First – what are bloodborne pathogens?

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in the blood that can cause a variety of diseases in humans. These pathogens include some common illnesses we see in society today, such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B, or HIV. People can catch bloodborne infections in various circumstances, whether via a work-related injury or by exposure to blood by using shared needles.

How can you limit exposure to bloodborne pathogens?

Those who work in a high-risk field can limit their exposure to bloodborne pathogens and take preventive measures to learn what to do if exposed. By taking a bloodborne pathogens training course, they can earn an OSHA certification that shows they have completed the training and are aware of the dangers of bloodborne pathogens.

Earning a bloodborne pathogens certification is crucial for most workers in the healthcare industry, helping them learn about the steps of dealing with and treating infectious diseases. Some ways workers can prevent the spread of illness are by reducing or eliminating exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Protective measures for employees

Employers of high-risk settings must employ protection measures, such as protective clothing, employee training, bloodborne pathogen training courses, medical surveillance, vaccinations, and work practice controls.

By employing standards set forth by OSHA, companies can make sure their employees are aware of how they can catch infectious diseases and how to prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens. Every employee in the healthcare industry, including those who work in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, hospitals, or rehab facilities, needs to undergo proper infectious control training to ensure they are protected during their everyday work.

Employers are the ones who should be held responsible and liable for any employees who have not undergone the proper training. OSHA provides the correct type of bloodborne pathogens certifications to those who have completed accredited courses, so ensure your employer provides you with the right resources when working at a health facility.

Conclusion

Those who work in high-risk settings are especially susceptible to catching bloodborne pathogens and diseases via bodily fluids, needle pricks, or shared bodily fluid. To prevent exposure and help educate employees, employers need to use protective measures for their company to limit exposure and provide training on what to do in case of exposure.

Employees should obtain a bloodborne pathogens certification to show they have undergone the proper training to work in the healthcare industry.