I've read several articles on here pertaining to this topic. Yes, by now we are all aware that what bloodborne pathogens are and how they can be acquired, in and out of the workplace. However, the importance of why every cleaning personal in every company and every organization, needs to be properly educated and trained on how to handle all forms and types of bloodborne pathogens. And I have yet to see the discussion pertaining to this!
We have learned how healthcare facilities are to be trained and execute proper cleaning techniques. But, what about those of us who work in what is now (during the COVID-19 Pandemic) considered to be "Non Essential Work Places and Environments"? Those of us who work in event centers, casinos, restaurants, certain assembly production companies, etc., still have to remember these practices, because accidents and spills do occur at these work places, as well. And these places also have required janitorial and maintenance departments that the employees and employers depend on to keep their work places clean and pristine, and as close to bacterial and viral free, as possible.
As a former Advanced Unlicensed Assistant Nurse, I was properly trained in what is known as "Terminal Cleaning" for operating rooms, emergency rooms, ICU patient rooms, etc., in order to keep these rooms as sterile and cross-contamination free, as possible. However, not every environment requires a "terminal cleaning", in non-essential work places. But, what happens if a guest/customer happens to be in a social gathering, and another guest becomes too-inebriated and becomes sick, losing control of all bodily functions either in one of the public bathrooms or in front of the other guests? What happens if a child happens to suddenly be ill from an unknown sickness, while having dinner with their family at a public restaurant? What if an employee in a business passes away and bodily fluids are expelled in their office? Do we still utilize the same practices in these environmental settings as one would in a medical setting? Absolutely, yes!
Oddly enough, I have experienced as an EVS Department Employee (after retiring from nursing) that I have mentioned in the above paragraph. These things do happen! And I have worked in places where they were not prepared for any of the things to occur, and the items needed for PPE for proper cleaning of these events, were not made readily available for many staff members to come in and assist in the proper cleaning of these accidents.
To add to this, once again, with what we are experiencing worldwide with the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is vitally important for EVERY workplace to provide ALL of the essential tools and gear needed to make certain that all employees are trained and prepared to properly clean an area that as been exposed to bloodborne pathogens; to be able to do this in a timely, but proficient manner, and that all employees are continually trained on what bloodborne pathogens are, how they are spread, and how all employees can properly and effectively help in the assistance of cleaning the affective area, as well as helping to keep non-trained individuals wanting to help, away from the exposed area, so that the employees can clean and remove everything that may have even been exposed and contaminated with an individuals bodily fluids and uncontrolled functions.
Every workplace should have disposable gowns, facial masks, gloves, face shields, even hair coverings and "shoe booties", spill kits, biohazard bags (small, medium, and large), and OSHA regulated containers to use in order to dispose of the contaminated items, properly. Every employee needs to be trained on the proper removal of gloves, protective coverings, handling of biohazard bags, etc. By not properly and enforcing the correct way to put on and remove the protective attire, and how to properly dispose of it, individual (without their knowledge) are increasing the chances of cross contaminating areas that were not affected, and increase the chances of innocent individuals being exposed and infected by highly contagious bloodborne pathogens and bodily fluids, including taking the risk of carrying diseases on their hands, clothes, shoes, to their own homes and running the risk of exposing family members.
No matter what the work environment is, there needs to be a team of trained individuals in place to make certain that all employees are properly educated and can display that they are knowledgeable and prepared to execute the exact way Universal Precautions, PPE, proper cleaning techniques, and correct disposal and disinfecting of all reusable tools and instruments used in the clean-up.
By not educating and maintaining continual education/cross-training of all employees on the importance of what proper clean-up of areas exposed to unknown bloodborne pathogens, a company or organization short changes their own daily production and profits, when a time comes that they may have to run on a "skeleton crew" because of situations (such as the one that we are experiencing, right now) causing an extreme shortage of viable employees, which makes for all available employees to have to double up and do the additional jobs outside of their normal, daily job requirements. This includes making certain that their work environment is clean and safe for the employees to be in. And, once again, this also continually exposes those who are a part of that "skeleton crew" maintaining the daily productions of that business, and runs the risk of those individuals to become infected, contagious, and reduces daily production even more. Thus resulting in a HUGE profit loss, and also reduces the supply and demand of the items society needs to survive.
Though cross-training and maintaining the proper education and testing of all employees in the correct cleaning of contaminated and exposed areas to bloodborne pathogens, as well as the proper applying and removal of the gear needed to complete the required cleaning and removal of exposed objects, can be timely and somewhat costly. Still, it pays off in the long run, all the way around for both the private and public sector, by reducing exposure and contamination, unnecessarily. This also makes for a well trained, working team of individuals, all the way around.
