Infection Control/Occupational Health
Standard (Universal) Precautions should be taken with all patients. People who work in hospitals or in healthcare positions may have contact with blood or bodily fluids (urine, stool, saliva) that can carry disease. Two of these are hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). If there is risk of exposure to patient blood or bodily fluids, appropriate protective measures should be taken.
Your chance of being directly exposed to bloodborne pathogens on the job is small. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is committed to keeping your risk to an absolute minimum and has developed a written exposure Control Plan that follows the regulations set up by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The purpose of the Exposure Control Plan is to:
- Identify employees at risk for exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
- Describe specific measures that employees can take to reduce the occupational risk for exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
- Outline procedures for employees to follow if a blood or bodily fluid exposure event occurs
A copy of this plan can be found in the offices of Environmental Health and Safety, Occupational Health, and Infection Control Departments.
Pre-placement Health Screening
Before you begin work, you must provide evidence of the following:
- a recent physical examination;
- immunizations against varicella, measles and rubella,
- and an annual screening for tuberculosis (all employees of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are required to have yearly TB screening).
If you are working on the CHOP Main Campus, all of these apply; if you are at a CHOP Care Network location, Occupational Health will make determination on a case-by-case basis. (Please note: Occupational Health will not be responsible for delivery of service.)
Infection Control Tips - Washing Your Hands
- Wet hands under running water
- Apply soap
- Lather and wash vigorously for 10-15 seconds
- Rinse under running water
- Dry hands with paper towel
- Use paper towel to turn off faucet