Infectious and Environmental Hazards Exposure Policy

School of Medicine Policy Manual  

Purpose

To establish procedures and strategies to reduce risks and complications associated with exposure to infectious and environmental hazards involving direct contact with contaminated tissues, fluids, surfaces, or objects, or to places with some risk of physical injury, for medical students participating in courses and clerkships. This policy will complement PHSU SOM current policy on Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure and will also assure compliance with LCME element 12.8 Student Exposure Policies/Procedures.

Policy

Prevention Education

During the orientation period, students must receive information on strategies to minimize exposure to infectious and environmental hazards during courses or laboratories on campus, community health fairs, clerkships, and other academic activities. They must be oriented to the process in place for removing used gloves, redirecting people needing health assistance in the field, and reporting incidents of exposure and financial responsibility in such cases, among other topics.

Before beginning third-year clerkships and during the Introduction to Clinical Practice course, students should receive training about personal equipment needed to protect themselves from potential contamination in a clinical workplace, including how to avoid exposure to infectious and environmental hazards.  Occupational Safety and Health Administration training certification is required before beginning the clinical rotations.

During any clinical academic activity, students must also follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Standard Precautions for all Patient Care described below.

1. Perform hand hygiene.
2. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever there is an expectation of possible exposure to infectious material.
3. Follow respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette principles.
4. Properly handle, clean, and disinfect patient care equipment and instruments/devices.
5. Handle textiles and laundry carefully
6. Follow safe injection practices.
7. Follow healthcare worker safety regulations including proper handling of needles and other sharps.
8. Is aware of the potential for transmission of infectious agents in patient-placement settings (isolation, single-patient room, etc.)

Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards

Medical students are expected to be exposed to pathogens and environmental hazards during their medical education program-related activities in clinical and community sites. They should demonstrate knowledge about the recommended precautions to avoid contamination with pathogens in body fluids, mucous membranes, or contaminated materials. Students must also know the preventive measures to avoid suffering slips or falls in different academic sites and control measures to handle these incidents. Slips and falls are the top three work-related injuries keeping workers out of work and cuts, lacerations and punctures are the most common work-related injuries. Medical students are exposed to these types of injuries while visiting different settings.

Reporting Incidents with Infectious and Environmental Hazards

If medical students are exposed to infectious agents or in some way injured in a clinical or community setting, they must report the incident to their immediate supervisor and receive medical assistance as soon as possible as established in the PHSU Emergency Preparedness Plan. Students who were exposed via needlestick, percutaneous injury, mucous membrane, or contact with non-intact skin with a potentially contaminated fluid must follow the procedures in place as described in the PHSU SOM Blood-borne Pathogen Exposure Policy included in the Student Policies Manual. In case of an accidental spill of material considered hazardous faculty must notify the Safety Officer to determine the following steps.

Financial Responsibility

Students’ medical insurance is responsible for all payments and co-payments related to incident care. The Office of Student Affairs will collaborate in the coordination of follow-up services and insurance as established in the PHSU SOM Blood-borne Pathogen Exposure Policy included in the Student Policies Manual.

References

• Standard Precautions for all Patient Care. (2016). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 24, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/basics/standard-precautions.html 
• Workplace Injuries. (2019). National Safety Council

Approved by SOM Executive and Policy Committee on December 17, 2019