**BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION**

**HUMAN RESOURCES**

**Portland, Oregon**

**PERSONNEL LETTER NO. 339-5 (Revised) DATE:** December 12, 2003

**SUBJECT:** Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens and Other
Potentially Infectious Materials

**I. PURPOSE**

The purpose of this letter is to: (1) define the July 1, 1999,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations on
occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030) as it
relates to BPA employees; (2) to establish follow-up procedures for
first aid providers assisting in any situation involving the presence of
blood or other potentially infectious materials; and (3) to describe the
process for reporting exposure incidents for blood or other potentially
infectious materials. This Personnel Letter supersedes Personnel Letter
339-5, dated December 9, 1997.

**II. GUIDANCE**

29 CFR 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens.

**III. NATURE OF THIS INFORMATION**

On December 6, 1991, OSHA issued regulations on occupational exposure to
bloodborne pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030). These regulations were revised
on July 1, 1999. OSHA determined that employees face a health risk as a
result of occupational exposure to blood and other potentially
infectious material because they may contain bloodborne pathogens.
Although these regulations primarily apply to occupations whose job
duties include direct exposure to blood such as health care workers,
portions are applicable to BPA employees.

OSHA concludes that these hazards can be minimized or eliminated through
appropriate training and the use of personal protective apparel and
equipment when administering first aid.

**IV. SCOPE**

This policy applies to all BPA employees, while on duty, who in the
course of rendering first aid to any person, are exposed to blood or
other potentially infectious materials.

**V. DEFINITIONS**

**A.** [Bloodborne pathogens]{.underline} are defined as pathogenic
microorganisms, present in human blood, which can cause disease in
humans who are exposed to blood containing the pathogen. These pathogens
include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C
(HCV) which causes a serious liver disease, and human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

**B.** [Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM)]{.underline}, for
the purpose of this letter, are defined as any body fluid or any body
fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood.

**VI. POLICY**

BPA will provide free medical evaluation(s) and treatment to employees
who experience an exposure incident while administering first aid.
Immediate intervention can forestall the development of hepatitis B or
enable the employee to track potential HIV infection. The treatment, as
recommended by the examining physician, [may]{.underline} include
hepatitis B immune globulin, hepatitis B vaccine, HIV prophylaxis (if
indicated), and follow-up for other bloodborne pathogens such as HIV.

BPA will offer pre-exposure hepatitis B vaccine to those employees
designated as wardens. As part of the collateral duties of a warden,
they are required to render first-aid and under the OSHA bloodborne
pathogens standard, must be offered pre-exposure hepatitis B vaccine.

**VII. PROCEDURES FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP**

All exposure incidents must be reported [as soon as
possible]{.underline} to permit immediate medical follow-up.

**VIII. RESPONSIBILITIES**

**A. [Employee's Responsibility]{.underline}:**

1\. Contact a licensed health care provider [immediately]{.underline} to
arrange a medical evaluation and counseling relative to the exposure
incident. The medical evaluation (which should occur within 4 hours of
exposure) must include the following:

a\. History of events related to the potential exposure.

b\. Documentation of the route of exposure.

c\. Recommendations made by the examining physician regarding
prophylactic treatment such as hepatitis B immune globulin, hepatitis B
vaccine, HIV prophylaxis, and follow-up for other bloodborne pathogens.

2\. Report the incident to your manager or first-line supervisor and the
Personnel Office.

> 3\. Advise employee to complete a CA-1, Federal Employee's Notice of
> Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation, to
> document that a potential exposure incident has occurred and submit
> the form to your supervisor for completion.

B.  **[Emergency Wardens]{.underline}:**

    1.  Are responsible for completing appropriate first-aid/CPR/AED
        training and maintaining current certification.

    2.  Are responsible for completing the annual bloodborne pathogens
        training.

    3.  Will be required to either receive the hepatitis B vaccine or
        sign a declination form in order to be assigned as a warden.

**C. [Supervisor/Manager]{.underline}:** When an exposure incident
occurs, the supervisor/manager is responsible to:

1\. Make sure that the employee is informed regarding this policy.

2\. Immediately release the employee from duty to pursue medical
follow-up.

3\. Notify the Safety Office and submit an Individual Accident/Incident
Report (BPA F 5480.01e).

4\. Forward the completed form (CA-1, Federal Employee's Notice of
Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation) to the
Personnel Office Benefits Manager and a copy to the Safety Office.

> 5\. Notify the Office of Security and Emergency Management (for
> Emergency Wardens only).
>
> **[D. Manager, Human Resources, Diversity and EEO]{.underline}:** Has
> responsibility for establishing the policy regarding medical
> evaluation and treatment of employees who have or may experience a
> bloodborne pathogen exposure.
>
> **E. [Manager, Personnel Services]{.underline}:** Has overall
> responsibility for implementing policy regarding medical evaluation
> and treatment of employees who have or may experience a bloodborne
> pathogen exposure.

F.  **[Safety Officer]{.underline}:** Has overall responsibility for:

1\. Establishing procedures for the safe performance of work by BPA
personnel

who may encounter blood or other OPIM during the performance of their
duties,

including an exposure control plan that meets OSHA regulations.

2.  Maintaining the OSHA log of exposure incidents.

3.  Coordinating the bloodborne pathogen training, maintaining training
    records, and reviewing adherence to safety procedures.

4.  Reviewing and evaluating items for personal protective equipment and
    setting standards for availability.

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G.  **[Office of Security and Emergency Management]{.underline}:** Has
    overall responsibility for ensuring that wardens have completed the
    annual bloodborne pathogens training prior to assignment of warden
    duties and that they receive required annual re-training.

**IX. PROCEDURES FOR PAYMENT OF MEDICAL BILLS**

**A.** BPA will pay for the parts of the medical evaluation related to
the exposure incident as follows:

1\. Examination by a licensed health care provider. The exam must
include items listed in VIII.A.1.a, b, and c.

2\. Blood tests performed to document HBV, HCV, and/or HIV infection.

3\. Hepatitis B immune globulin and/or hepatitis B vaccine when
indicated.

4\. HIV prophylaxis when indicated.

**B.** Any further evaluation or tests (not listed above) performed by
the health care provider will be at the employee's expense. It is the
employee's responsibility to inform the health care provider of this
information.

**C.** Because of the urgent need for medical attention, in most cases
it will be impossible to send a letter pre-authorizing medical services
for the employee prior to the medical evaluation. To assure payment of
medical bills by Disbursement Operations, either of the following
processes is acceptable.

**D.** The Personnel Office may:

1\. Send a letter to the health care provider authorizing services
received by the employee.

2\. Attach a BPA F 3792.02, Certificate of Medical Examination, to be
completed by the health care provider and returned to the Servicing
Personnel Office for completion and processing. The Tax ID number of the
medical provider must be included.

**OR**

3\. Attach the medical exam invoice, received from either the employee
or the medical provider, to the BPA F 3792.02.

4\. In this case, Part A of the BPA F 3792.02 does not need to be
completed by the medical provider; however, the Tax ID must be included.

Any questions regarding the policy should be directed to the Medical
Program Manager, Personnel Services. Questions regarding the payment
procedure should be directed to the Personnel Office.

Godfrey C. Beckett

Manager, Human Resources, Diversity and EEO