Gaining a deeper knowledge about the importance of cleaning Bloodborne pathogens and OSHA is not just important for cleaners. Having this knowledge is important for all people because these problems not only exist inside of health care facilities it happens in restaurants, and inside of homes as well. I believe it will be beneficial for all families that have or deal with these issues involving the needs of this specific cleaning service people should be able to have this type of training course free of charge.

This training should be promoted more because there are a number of people like myself who have no understanding of the importance and proper cleaning techniques when it comes to cleaning Bloodborne pathogens. Following standard precautions to help prevent the spread of Bloodborne pathogens whenever there is a risk of exposure to blood or other body fluids are extremely important. Most people treat blood and other body fluids as if it was infectious, but if it was to happen in your presence and came down to you being the only one to clean it up it would be great to have that knowledge on knowing how to properly clean up the mess.

Even if a facility or home looks clean, bloodborne pathogens could be lurking in tiny drops. It's important to treat all places as if they are hazardous to your health. The Bloodborne pathogen cleaning certificate course will be beneficial to me since I plan to do residential cleaning including cleaning restrooms which contain body fluids. I plan to learn more about the importance of Bloodborne pathogens, that's why I decided to take this course.

Acknowledging this line of work poses inherent risk of coming into contact with bloodborne pathogens is the first step in keeping yourself and others safe. In using universal precautions and having good observation skills can help to mitigate the risk of exposure. As well, as establishing an exposure plan and keeping up with industry requirements

As a team leader it is important to make sure the information OSHA has put forth about bloodborne pathogens. In addition, to making sure everyone who is in contact has the information they need;is making sure training is done, and the methods set forth to control exposure are done initially starting in this occupation, annually or when new or changed procedures.

In conclusion, knowledge and training is the key to keeping workplace hazards down and to keep everyone safe from serious and life-threatening illness. Also, staff trained on how to don and doff personal protective equipment and why they should utilize to help stay safe. Unfortunately, these occupational hazards are just part of the job, however staying safe is everyone's job.

There are many ways we can implement Medical Cleaning Practices into other Residential and Commercial Cleaning Services. The first thing that should always be done should also be the simplest. Making sure that all employees Wash their Hands frequently and most important properly (ie. for at least 20 seconds). Hand sanitizer should also be available for use by all. Another great tool that is generally only used within the medical field are PPE's or Personal Protective Equipment. While most cleaning personnel already use the most common PPE- gloves. I believe that it would also be very beneficial to implement the use of other PPE's such as face masks & goggles.

Another great medical cleaning practice to implement is to treat ALL trash as if it is potentially contaminated and to make sure that it is disposed of properly. It is very important to make sure that we not only clean areas but that we also disinfect them. Knowing the difference between cleaning and disinfecting is not something that is known by all, but is vital. There are a lot of types of disinfectants that can be used for different things but it is also equally important to know the proper place and way they should be used.

Using the "3 rule method" in Residential or Commercial Cleaning Settings would be very beneficial to not only help get the job done right but to get it done quicker. The "3 rule method" starts with cleaning an area clockwise, from Top to Bottom. Then do your Dry cleaning first such as dusting, sweeping, garbage, etc. & then do your Wet cleaning such as wiping down desks, computers, phones, etc. And lastly is to use a Consistent Pattern like back & forth, or side to side.

A couple of other great practices that would be helpful to implement in other cleaning industries are. Work Practice Controls which reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the way a task is performed. And, Administration Controls which includes the education & training of employees. And also the application of standard operating procedures for the prevention of exposure.

https://ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices

Janitorial services are often an overlooked service to our communities; however, their importance cannot be mentioned enough. Through the physical efforts of Janitorial staff, our communities are cleaner and safer than they could be without them. Janitorial staff clean a wide variety of commercial locations including, but not limited to: shopping malls, business offices, medical offices, grocery stores, production/ manufacturing floors etc.

If it were not for our Janitors, the risk of contracting a foodborne illness would be significantly higher when dining, the risk of contracting a communicable illness would be higher at our workplaces, shopping locations and medical offices, contamination could be occurring in our manufacturing and production plants etc. Janitors are keeping you healthy and safe from daily threats that we cannot see and their importance to our communities cannot be undermined.

Locate a certified Janitorial Service today, using IJCSA's Janitorial Services Directory at : https://www.ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices

Your building is essential to where your customers gain trust! Here at IJCSA you are sure to find cleaning services that will provide a deep and thorough cleaning while utilizing the latest up-to-date equiptment that allows us to clean up to a wide range of flooring. We also use safe cleaning solutions that will achieve the best results. Frequently cleaning your carpets greatly improves indoor air quality, and helps to alleviate allergy symptoms. Please contact one of our trained professionals and we wold be happy to provide you with a free quote.

There are quite a few benefits to having your carpet or rugs cleaned. First and foremost, this is a job you want professionally done at least once a year! You want to be sure you see the life of your carpets extended. 

Keeping up with your carpets/rugs not only removes those hard to scrub out stains, but it annihilates moisture when used with the right equiptment. With IJCSA we use top of the line high powered drying tools... just a side note. Another reason is one of the most important I might add, especially if you have children. Having your carpets and rugs kept up with prevents mold and mildew growth. Touching or even inhaling mold or mold spores can cause allergic reactions. These allergic responses can be as simple as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, skin rash, or as severe as hay fever. These reactions can be immediate or possibly delayed. So why take the chance? It benefits all to take 1 day out of the year, and have a professional come to save you all that hassle and headache, literally!

Find Professional Carpet Cleaning Companies Here

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If you are in the cleaning business in any capacity, there is a very good chance that you may be exposed to to blood borne pathogens. Exposures to these pathogens are not limited to just healthcare settings.

It is strongly encouraged that anyone handling any type of waste, cleaning restrooms, or even mopping floors in any type of facility be knowledgable in the prevention of cross-contamination of blood borne pathogens. These pathogens can be found in saliva, vomit, feces, as well as blood. 

It is a common occurrence for employees, and visitors to go to the restroom to vomit, tend to a laceration, or more commonly use the toilet. If you are not knowledgeable in the proper use of tools, protective equipment, and procedure need for proper cleaning of your restroom, you could expose yourself, and others to a blood borne illness. 

You should learn, about the proper sanitizing, and disinfection process, of all equipment used in cleaning up all potential hazards. This should also include the proper disposal of all protective equipment and material used for cleanup. (ie towels, rags, or sponges) Proper disposal includes placing affected materials in properly color coded, and clearly labeled receptacles.

Amid the growing Coronavirus Pandemic it is more important than ever for employees and staff to know the risk about bloodborne and non bloodborne pathogens. Properly handling and being aware of all the contaminated surfaces that employees come in contact with is key to preventing an exposure. It is important for everyone to be properly educated and aware of how to keep themselves and others safe.

Using Universal Precautions and assuming that all bodily fluids are infectious is the safest way to prevent infections from bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B and HIV. All employees should be aware of the OSHA standards and what precautions to take incase of an exposure.

Lastly wearing proper PPR is crucial in preventing an exposure. Employers should provide their employees with the proper PPE needed to due their work properly. When cleaning or working with blood/bodily fluids make sure that you are wearing appropriate PPE and are following all guidelines that have been taught to you when you were trained.

Following these simple step will help ensure a safe work environment. 

Bloodborne pathogens refer to the pathogen micro organisms present in blood that cause viruses and diseases. Bloodborne pathogens include viruses like Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Cleaning staff may come in contact with these pathogens when removing trash, changing laundry, or cleaning up after something that has become ill. Bloodborne pathogens are spread through blood and bodily fluids, like vomit and saliva. According to OSHA, The most common method of transmission is when an infected person's blood enters another person's bloodstream through an open wound or cut, or when inhaled through the mouth or nose (https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03/bloodbornepathogens.pdf).

Subsequently, as a commercial and residential cleaner it is very likely that our staff may come in contact with these bloodborne pathogens. Furthermore, failure to properly handle those pathogens could lead to deadly exposure by our staff members causing illnesses and disease. In addition, by not properly handling these materials can also increase the chances of spreading the bacteria throughout other contaminated and non-contaminated areas increasing the chances of greater exposure to staff and others. Moreover, the potential of exposure to viruses like HIV could prove deadly as there is no cure.

Consequently, OSHA’s Universal Precautions standards dictate that blood and bodily fluids from all patients should be considered potentially infectious and such precautions should always be taken when handling the materials. Therefore, it is ASAC’s responsibility to ensure the safety of our staff if and/or when they may encounter such germs. The first step is creating, maintaining, and frequently updating our OSHA approved bloodborne pathogens handling safety procedures. The plan will address:

• 1.       Our employees using those “universal precautions” when coming into contact with blood or any bodily fluid. What happens if the employee becomes exposed to a bloodborne pathogen? What safety procedures should be enforced by the employee and supervisor? These records will be properly stored and available for no less than 3 years.
• 2.       The proper procedures for handling bloodborne pathogens, including the disinfecting of cleaning equipment and supplies once clean up has been completed. In addition, we want to detail how to properly dispose of waste in the appropriate red or yellow bags, as indicated by OSHA.

• 3.       What personal protective equipment (PPE) will be necessary when handling bloodborne pathogens to protect the skin, mouth, nose, and eyes and reduce the possibility of transmission of deadly viruses to our employees and spread to non-contaminated areas.
• 4.       A plan for routine training and onboarding training for new employees. It will be absolutely necessary to inform all staff concerning the proper protocols and importance of properly identifying, handling, and clean-up of deadly bacteria that can cause sickness and even death.

The manner in which bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted to otherwise healthy individuals is a relatively easy occurrence. Especially within the commercial cleaning industry, as we are often requested to clean medical facilities, doctor’s and dental offices, and other industrial areas where bodily fluids may be present. Therefore, it will be absolutely vital for our employees to be well informed and continually updated concerning the proper procedures surrounding the handling of bloodborne pathogens.