Crime Scene Investigation: UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued regulations regarding occupational exposure to BBPs in December 1991. Those occupations at risk for exposure to BBPs include law enforcement, emergency response, and forensic laboratory personnel (Title 29 CFR, 1910.1030). Fundamental to the BBP Standard is the primary concept for infection control called Universal Precautions. These measures require employees to treat all human blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials as if they are infected with diseases such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The following protective measures should be taken to avoid direct contact with these potentially infectious materials (Title 29 CFR, 1991):
• Use barrier protection such as disposable gloves, coveralls, and shoe covers when handling potentially infectious materials. Gloves should be worn, especially if there are cuts, scratches, or other breaks in the skin.
• Change gloves when torn, punctured, or when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.
• Wear appropriate eye and face protection to protect against splashes, sprays, and spatters of infectious materials. Similar precautions should be followed when collecting dried bloodstains.
• Place contaminated sharps in appropriate closable, leak-proof, puncture resistant containers when transported or discarded. Label the containers with a BIOHAZARD warning label. Do not bend, recap, remove, or otherwise handle contaminated needles or other sharps.
• Prohibit eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics where human blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials are present.
• Wash hands after removing gloves or other personal protective equipment (PPE). Remove gloves and other PPE in a manner that will not result in the contamination of unprotected skin or clothing.
• Decontaminate equipment after use with a solution of household bleach diluted 1:10, 70% isopropyl alcohol, or other disinfectant. Noncorrosive disinfectants are commercially available. Allow sufficient contact time to complete disinfection. In addition to Universal Precautions, prudent work practices and proper pack aging serve to reduce or eliminate exposure to potentially infectious materials. Packaging examples include puncture-resistant containers used for storage and disposal of sharps.
