The exposure control plan

An explanation of the exposure control plan and how a written copy can be obtained. 

Practice Name) maintains, reviews, and updates the exposure control plan... 

An annual review of the exposure control plan by employers must ensure that their plans reflect consideration and use of commercially available safer medical devices. An emphasis should be placed on the use of effective engineering controls, to include safer medical devices, work practices, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Employers should rely on relevant evidence, in addition to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, to ensure the effectiveness of devices designed to prevent exposure to bloodbome pathogens. 

The employer must also request input from non-managerial employees responsible for direct patient care who are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls. This process must be documented in the exposure control plan. Planning begins with iden-tif3dng employees who have occupational exposure. 

Exposure Control Plan. The exposure control plan is a pivotal provision of the bloodborne standard. It requires the employer to identify the employees who will receive the training, protective equipment, vaccinations, and other provisions of the standard. The employer must identify the positions and task procedures where occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infections materials can occur. 

Reporting procedures must be in place under the exposure control plan to ensure that all first-aid incidents involving the presence of blood or OPIM are reported to the employer before the end of the work shift during which the incident occurs. 

The exposure control plan must contain, at a minimum ... 

In the exposure control plan, are employers required to list specific tasks that place the employee at risk for all job classifications ... 

Does the exposure control plan need to be a separate document ... 

How often must the exposure control plan be reviewed ... 

The standard requires an annual review of the exposure control plan. In addition, whenever changes in tasks, procedures, or employee positions affect, or create new occupational exposure, the existing plan must be reviewed and updated accordingly. 

Yes. The exposure control plan must be accessible to employees. The location of the plan may be adapted to the circumstances of a particular workplace, provided that employees can access a copy at the workplace during their workshift. If the plan is maintained solely on a computer, employees must be trained to operate the computer. A hard copy of the exposure control plan must be provided within 15 working days of the employee s request as specified under 1910.1020. 

The exposure control plan is a key component of compliance with the Bloodbome Pathogens standard. The plan has to be tailored to the specifications of yovu- facility, but there are certain universal elements that need to be included in any plan. 

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