Teargas, defensive sprays, and special training for the professional.

Facts on Personal Protective Equipment

In helping with the injured or working with the deceased, you often come in contact with blood or human body fluids other than your own. Without ever knowing it, you may be exposed to the possibility of infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Hepatitis B virus. Both bloodborne pathogens are smaller and more lethal than a bullet.

Now, your protection is mandated by Federal law. In December of 1991, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued it's final rule on bloodborne pathogens. The OSHA rule mandates additional protection by requiring your employer to provide appropriate personal protection equipment.

If you work in any occupation in which you may come in contact with body fluids this OSHA ruling applies to you. The rule defines occupational exposure as "any reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee's duties." Parenteral contact includes those instances in which a fluid enters the body by means other than the digestive system, such as injection.

"Appropriate" equipment, according to the ruling, must not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through to or reach the employee's work clothes, street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time which the protective equipment will be used.

All employers must provide personal protective equipment to any of their workers who are at risk of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious body fluids. The rule also states that the risk of exposure be minimized by use of universal precautions. The employer is also responsible for training and educational programs to all employees who may be exposed to blood or other body fluids. This training must take place at time of employment and then once every year thereafter.

For more information, please visit the OSHA web site at http://www.osha.gov.