My employee just had a blood and/or body fluid exposure...now what?
If your employee has reported an exposure to blood or body fluid through a sharps injury or a splash to the mucous membranes or non-intact skin, immediately:
- Instruct the employee to cleanse the area if they have not already done so
- Ensure that a source risk assessment has been completed and source blood work obtained - Please refer to your health authority's Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Policy/Protocol for information regarding obtaining source risk assessments and consent for source blood to be tested for blood borne pathogens.
- Direct the employee to the nearest Emergency as soon as possible for an assessment (within 2 hours).
- Direct the employee to call the Workplace Health Provincial Contact Centre at 1-866-922-9464 (select Option 1) following their visit to the Emergency Department to report the incident and to speak with Communicable Disease Exposure Management Nurse.
The Provincial Workplace Health Contact Centre Communicable Disease Exposure Management Nurse will:
- Provide information and support for the employee
- Provide the employee with their baseline lab results when available
- Provide follow up recommendations based on the source lab results and the source risk assessment
What is considered to be a potential exposure to HIV, HBV, or HCV?
For transmission of blood borne pathogens (HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) to occur, an exposure must include both:
- Infectious Body Fluid
- A Portal of Entry (percutaneous, mucous membrane, cutaneous with non-intact skin)
Please note that feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine and vomit do not transmit HIV, HBV, or HCV unless there is visible blood.
For more information, please see the BCCDC—Table 1. Fluids capable of transmitting bloodborne pathogens.
