4 Groups of People That Require Bloodborne Pathogen Training

Bloodborne pathogens enter your body through the blood stream resulting in various illnesses and diseases. Basically, microorganisms like viruses and bacteria that cause diseases in people and are carried through the blood are known bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens cause various fatal diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C. Healthcare workers who deal with blood on a daily basis are at a high risk of being infected with such dangerous diseases. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for all individuals who are involved in work spheres that deal with blood and other body fluids to be trained about protecting themselves from bloodborne pathogens.

4 specific groups of people that constantly deal with potentially infected blood and body fluids like vaginal fluid and semen are mentioned below.

• People from the healthcare sector who handle blood and other body fluids daily: Doctors, laboratory technicians, nurses, blood bank technicians have a higher chance of being infected if they do not take the necessary precautions while handling potentially infected blood and other body fluids. All these workers need to be extra careful as it may become a life and death situation. The highest level of training must be provided to them by their healthcare organization for the sake of the patient as well as the worker.

• People who work with sharp instruments: Sharp instruments like needles, knives, blades, etc. may result in serious injury. If your work sphere requires you to work with such sharp objects you need to be careful while handling them. Proper training should be provided to ensure safety. Young students who work in Biology and Chemistry research laboratories need to be trained as they may be inexperienced. All these precautions are necessary in order to keep you safe and free of disease.

• Support staff at hospitals: Assistants and support staff working alongside laboratory and blood bank technicians, nurses and doctors should also be trained as they are indirectly involved in handling blood and other body fluids. Though they are not directly dealing with body fluids, still they are at a high risk. Accidental splash of blood on someone's face can cause spread of the bloodborne pathogens and harm his life.

• People who are involved in waste disposal: Janitors and sweepers are also exposed to bloodborne pathogens in their work places. Toilets and washrooms that are not cleaned are very dangerous as they may have trace amounts of blood and other body fluids. Sweepers and cleaners need to be trained to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from being infected. In hospitals, people who handle the medical waste should be very careful as they usually deal with sharp objects like needles and broken glass, etc.

Diseases caused by bloodborne pathogens are highly dangerous and most of them are fatal. As always, prevention is better than cure. In order to prevent mishaps occurring in work places, people who are exposed to these pathogens on a daily basis need to be adequately trained to protect themselves. Training is essential for even those who deal with even the slightest amount of blood.