Certified Bloodborne Pathogens & Needle-stick Specialist Course (CBPS)

Course Description

Bloodborne Pathogens, due to various injuries, especially via contaminated sharps and needle sticks, continue to be a serious and significant public health concern. Anyone working with and around blood or other potentially infectious materials is at risk of exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, which include AIDS, HIV, HBV (Hepatitis B), and Hepatitis C. Workers in the healthcare industry and public safety jobs are particularly exposed to these pathogens. Among them are doctors, dentists, nurses, fire and rescue personnel, police officers, laboratory workers, custodial workers, housekeepers, laundry workers, and others. However, it is important to remember that even those who do not have direct contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials are also at risk of exposure.

Individuals may be at risk if they handle human blood products, such as whole blood, plasma, serum, platelets, or white cells. Working with human body fluids, including semen, cerebrospinal fluid, vaginal secretions, joint fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, or amniotic fluid, also poses a risk. Similarly, working with animals, such as primates infected with hepatitis B or other bloodborne pathogens, or performing tasks where such animals are housed, can increase exposure risk.

Additional risk factors include handling unfixed human tissue, organs, or primary cell strains (tissues soaked in chemical preservatives such as alcohol or formaldehyde are considered “fixed”), working directly with the hepatitis B virus or other bloodborne pathogens, or handling preparations containing these pathogens. Exposure can also occur when handling blood, blood products, body fluids, or unfixed tissues or organs of animals infected with these pathogens.

Workers using sharp instruments such as knives, needles, scalpels, or scissors that have been used by others working with human blood or other potentially infectious materials, including human organs, tissue, or body fluids, or similar materials from infected animals, are at risk.

Entering areas where others work with infected human or animal blood, body fluids, tissues, or organs, and performing tasks where these substances may contact the laboratory worker’s unbroken skin, broken skin, or mucous membranes, also pose a risk.

Finally, performing any tasks that may potentially result in exposed skin or mucous membranes coming into contact with human or animal blood, body fluids, organs, or tissues infected with hepatitis B or other bloodborne pathogens increases the likelihood of exposure.

What You'll Learn

• How to develop and implement an effective written bloodborne pathogen program.
• How to determine and eliminate exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Understand OSHA and State OSHA methods of compliance.
• How to handle and treat regulated hazardous waste, and much more.

Who Should Attend

Healthcare workers Nurses & doctors Laboratory staff Custodial workers Fire & rescue personnel Police officers Housekeeping & laundry staff