Boca Raton Police Services Communicable Diseases PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Departmental Standards Directive 13.950 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Revised: March 17, 2022 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to provide precautionary measures as outlined in this departmental standards directive and the City of Boca Raton’s Bloodborne Path...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Departmental Standards Directive 13.950 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Revised: March 17, 2022 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to provide precautionary measures as outlined in this departmental standards directive and the City of Boca Raton’s Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan to minimize the risk of infection to Department employees under certain conditions. II. POLICY: It is the Department’s policy to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations regarding communicable diseases as follows: • Safeguard Department employees to the highest degree possible. • To safeguard the public who may come into contact with people who have, or are suspected of having, a communicable disease without compromising essential services to the community or individual citizens. • To treat an individual's infectious disease status as confidential information requiring only limited disclosure to those parties at risk of contamination, to the extent provided by law. • To consider information concerning the medical condition of any person with a communicable disease as confidential, to the extent provided by law. III. DEFINITIONS: Bloodborne Pathogens: Microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, syphilis, babesiosis, brucellosis, leptospirosis, arboviral infections, relapsing fever, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Human T-lymphotropic virus Type I and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever. HBV, HCV, and HIV are the viruses of the greatest interest and present the greatest risk. Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Incident: A specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin (abrasion, acne, chapped, chafed, cut, dermatitis, hangnail, open wound), or parenteral (piercing mucous membrane or skin – such as a human bite or a needle stick) contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Effective: January 25, 1988 Revised: March 17, 2022 Communicable Diseases Directive No. 13.950 Page 1 of 7 Exposure Incident: Cases where extensive areas of intact skin are exposed to blood or where there was prolonged exposure (several minutes or more) of blood to intact skin, the incident should be reported, and the risk of HIV should be considered by the City’s contracted medical services provider. Emergencies: Injuries and/or illnesses that are described as being severe, occurring suddenly and requiring immediate medical attention. IV. PROCEDURE: A. EXPOSURE TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES: 1. An exposure to a bloodborne pathogen occurs when a person's blood or body fluids are transferred to another person's bloodstream. This exposure can occur in the following ways: a. Skin punctures caused by needles or other sharp objects, e.g., accidentally being pierced by a hypodermic needle while searching people or places. b. Being bitten by another person or coming into contact with an opening in the skin, e.g., cuts, sores, abrasions, etc., which were exposed to blood or body fluids. c. Being splashed by body fluids or a person’s blood in the eyes, nose, or mouth. Body fluids include blood and semen, as well as tears, vomit, saliva, urine, and stools visibly contaminated with blood. 2. An exposure to an airborne pathogen occurs when a subject infected with by airborne particles by a sneezing, coughing, or shouting. A susceptible person then inhales the particles and becomes infected. a. Normal air currents can keep particles airborne for prolonged periods and spread them throughout a room or building. b. Some airborne pathogens are usually transmitted only through the air, not by surface contact 3. The mere handling of a person being arrested does not constitute an exposure. For an actual exposure to occur, at least one of the above conditions must be met. B. REPORTING PROCEDURES: 1. Any employee who believes he/she has been exposed to a communicable disease while acting in his/her official capacity shall follow the steps outlined in Standard Operating Procedure 13.01 On the Job Injuries, Illnesses, and Bloodborne Pathogens. Effective: January 25, 1988 Revised: March 17, 2022 Communicable Diseases Directive No. 13.950 Page 2 of 7 C. OBTAINING BLOOD SAMPLES FROM EXPOSURE SOURCES: 1. Refer to Standard Operating Procedure 13.01 On the Job Injuries, Illnesses, and Bloodborne Pathogens for procedures on obtaining blood samples from exposure sources. D. GENERAL PRECAUTIONS: 29.01 1. The following general precautions shall be observed to prevent a bloodborne pathogens exposure: a. Use a resuscitator mask when performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or CPR. b. Wear disposable surgical gloves when handling blood or other body fluids, regardless of whether such fluids are wet or dry. c. Wash hands thoroughly and immediately with soap and hot water following any contact with blood or other body fluids, even if gloves have been worn. d. If bitten, encourage the wound to bleed by applying pressure and "milking the wound." e. Bandage any existing open wounds or cuts on the hands to avoid direct contact with contaminated body fluids, changing bandages if they become wet or soiled. f. Use extraordinary care when conducting searches of suspects or vehicles. Never blindly place hands in areas where there may be sharp objects that could puncture the skin. g. The use of a long-handled mirror or available metal detectors is advisable whenever possible. h. If splashed or spit on, wash eyes or mouth with water, rinsing the mouth with germicidal mouthwash. i. When a subject is suspected of having a communicable disease, which is capable of being transmitted by airborne particles, wear a face mask while in contact with the subject. 2. Employees shall replenish any personal protective equipment used prior to the end of his/her assigned tour of duty. Employees shall notify his/her immediate supervisor if a particular piece of personal protective equipment is not available. 3. It shall be the responsibility of each employee to ensure that the vehicle which he/she will be using during his/her assigned tour of duty is equipped with all the necessary personal protective equipment. Effective: January 25, 1988 Revised: March 17, 2022 Communicable Diseases Directive No. 13.950 Page 3 of 7 E. EVIDENCE HANDLING: 1. When handling evidence or other materials taken into custody and are suspected of being contaminated, use extraordinary care. 2. Handle all materials contaminated with blood or other body fluids, whether wet or dry, with disposable gloves. 29.01 3. Package hypodermic needles and other sharp objects in puncture-resistant containers. 29.01 4. To prevent skin punctures caused by needles or other sharp objects, such items shall not be capped, bent, broken, removed from a syringe, or otherwise manipulated by hand. 5. Use biohazard warning labels to clearly identify all packages containing contaminated items, or items suspected of being contaminated, so others coming in contact with the items will be aware of the risk. Red bags or red containers may be substituted for the warning labels. 29.01 F. INFECTION CONTROL PROCEDURES DURING CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS WITH BODY FLUIDS PRESENT: 1. The following protective measures shall supplement existing crime scene procedures: a. Wear disposable gloves at all times. 29.01 b. Wear protective gear, including face shields or protective glasses/masks, if there is a potential for the splattering of body fluids. 29.01 c. Move slowly and carefully around the scene to avoid any exposure to body fluids. 2. DO NOT DO the following: a. Smoke, eat, or drink at any crime scene. b. Place fingers, pencils, or other objects in your mouth at any crime scene. c. Touch any items that may have been touched by someone not wearing gloves. 3. DO the following: 29.01 a. Use biohazard-warning labels to clearly tag or mark all specimens known to be contaminated with body fluids. Red bags or red containers may be substituted for the warning labels. Effective: January 25, 1988 Revised: March 17, 2022 Communicable Diseases Directive No. 13.950 Page 4 of 7 b. Wear a face, eye, and mouth shield when handling dry body fluid samples, as dry fluids have a propensity to flake and become airborne when disturbed. 29.01 c. Issue appropriate warnings to other agencies or persons involved whenever the responsibility for a crime scene is transferred. G. DECONTAMINATION AND CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES: 29.01 1. Hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection. 2. Wash hands thoroughly and immediately with soap and hot water following any contact with blood or other body fluids. 3. Specific hand washing techniques are described in the City of Boca Raton’s Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan. 4. The following procedures shall apply to the cleaning of uniforms and other items of clothing: 29.01 a. Launder washable fabrics in a bleach solution if the fabric is compatible with bleach. b. Dilute body fluid stains on fabrics requiring dry cleaning in cold water and place the clothing in a plastic bag before cleaning. c. Disinfect or dispose of resuscitator masks and evidence collection materials contaminated with blood or other body fluids after each use. 5. Detainee processing areas and vehicles contaminated by blood or other body fluids must be cleaned immediately following the release of the infected person, and prior to confining another person in the same cell or utilizing the contaminated vehicle. 6. In the case of large spills, the use of a professional biohazard waste disposal service is advisable, whenever possible. 7. The following decontamination procedures shall apply: a. Always wear disposable gloves. b. After removing all visible fluids, wash small items or equipment with soap and hot water, and then rinse them thoroughly. c. Soak items in a solution of water and household bleach for 10 to 15 minutes with a concentration of 1 to 1 1/2 cups of bleach for each gallon of water, and then rinse with water and air dry. Effective: January 25, 1988 Revised: March 17, 2022 Communicable Diseases Directive No. 13.950 Page 5 of 7 8. The operator of the vehicle is responsible for cleanup if a small blood spill occurs inside a Department vehicle. a. The use of disposable plastic to line the car seat beforehand is advisable whenever possible. b. To decontaminate an area, disinfect with bleach, using one-part bleach to nine-parts water. c. Buckets, sponges, brushes, gloves, and bleach are available in the sally port for vehicle cleaning. These items will need to be disposed of properly after each cleaning. 9. Employees may clean small blood spills inside the police facility in the same manner as prescribed for vehicle cleaning. 10. More specific housekeeping and decontamination techniques are described in the City of Boca Raton’s Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan. H. REGULATED WASTE MANAGEMENT 29.01 1. Infectious waste, which is disposed of by means other than washing into the sewerage system, is regulated by federal, state, and local laws, and is termed "regulated waste". 2. Regulated wastes shall be placed in containers that are closable, constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping. 3. These containers will be labeled biohazardous or color-coded (red bagged) and closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping. 4. If outside contamination of the regulated waste container occurs, it shall be placed in a second container. 5. The second container will be closable, constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping and be labeled biohazardous or color-coded. 6. The container must be closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping. a. If regulated waste is stored prior to disposal, it must be stored in a secure area that is locked or otherwise secured to eliminate access by the general public and must be afforded protection from adverse environmental conditions and vermin. Effective: January 25, 1988 Revised: March 17, 2022 Communicable Diseases Directive No. 13.950 Page 6 of 7 V. REFERENCES: A. FSS 381.004 B. FSS 951.27 C. OSHA Standard 29, Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1030, “Bloodborne Pathogens.” Approved: Michele Miuccio Chief of Police Effective: January 25, 1988 Revised: March 17, 2022 Date: Communicable Diseases Directive No. 13.950 Page 7 of 7