IKL Knowledge

Policies & Procedures

LODGE & ROOM SECURITY

31. Body Fluid Spillage, Hepatitis B and HIV

Body Fluid Spillage, Hepatitis B and HIV

Refer to the Company Retail Safety Policy section 3.3 and Training Short 1.8

An incident report is required to be completed for all incidents where blood or vomit has been cleared away.

Introduction Events involving accidents with hypodermic needles have shown the need for guidance on HIV infection, Hepatitis B and to some extent body fluid spillage.

Incidents should be treated as confidential matters and should not be discussed with others.

Injuries from needle punctures may occur in the following situations: • Cleaning soft furnishings • Emptying waste bins

• Cleaning behind pipework • Maintaining WC cisterns • Cleaning up discarded needles • During threats of violance

Risk of infection Employees should be made aware that there is a risk of exposure to HIV infection and/or Hepititis B from needle stick injuries or when cleaning up body fluid spillages. The risk of infection is very small but cannot be ignored. HIV and Hepititis B organisms can only survive for a matter of hours away from the human body. The precautions in this arrangement will help in enhancing the control of the risk of exposure. However, each incident must be treated on its own merits using the advice in this arrangement.

The virus does not present a high risk of spreading in the workplace, except in the possible circumstances described above.

Spread of the virus is almost exclusively by: • Sexual activity • Direct contact with fresh contaminated blood for example, needle sharing amongst drug abusers, accidental penetration by a used needle (known as needle-stick injuries) • Administration of blood and blood products, for example, treatment of haemophiliacs There is no risk of infection from air borne droplets and therfore there is no known risk of transmission of the virus to other team members sharing the same working enviroment as HIV infection and/or Hepititis B positive people. There is no justification for restricting any carriers of the virus from the normal work activity, for example, use of telephones and other equiupment. General Guidelines Measures to reduce the chance of infection occuring can in many instances be carried out with little difficulty and seldom require more than simple hygiene practices: • Avoid all unnecessary contact with blood and other body fluids • Adopt good personal hygiene, with special attention to the adequate protection of cuts and abraisons using blue waterproof plasters • In the event of accidental contact with blood or other body fluids that contaminate skin should be thoroughly washed immediately. If it is thought that the blood or other body fluids have entered a cut or abrason, the wound should be cleaned with an anticeptic solution and covered with a waterproof dressing. Bleeding initially could be encouraged before treatment. Should other areas have been contaminated the advice given on disinfection and the disposal of waste should be followed • Disposal of tampons/sanitary towels: the present accepted means of disposal should be followed • Guest Bathrooms: no special measures need to be adopted other than the standard practice of cleaning and maintenance. Sanitary Bags must be present in all rooms at all times as per IKL standard There is no evidence of spread of infection by casual social contact and in particular by the shared use of toilet and washing facilities.

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Innkeeper’s Lodge

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