Safety Programs

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Bloodborne Pathogen Information

Systemwide Safety Programs offers various online safety training courses through PDO (assigned by job code). These courses have been assigned to selected school-based and non-school-based employees to meet compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandated training requirements and to help reduce workplace and classroom injuries.

Employees must register for these web-based training courses through PDO.

Assigned safety courses will appear under the “required” courses section of each employee’s PDO screen. A list of required courses and who must take them are shown in the attached table (link provided below).

Additional recommended safety courses are available for all employees. These courses, which employees may voluntarily complete, are listed in the attached table (link provided below).

After completion of each course, employees should print their Certificate of Completion for their records.

Mandatory Online Safety Courses

Available Recommended Online Safety Courses

Please take note of the Hazard Communication: Right to Understand and Safety Data Sheets (GHS) courses, which have been assigned to employees who might receive occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals. These additional courses ensure compliance with the updated OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. All employees who might be exposed to hazardous chemicals in their work areas must complete these courses upon initial assignment.

The amount of time needed to complete each online course varies (13 to 30 minutes). OSHA/MOSH regulations require that time is made available during the workday for employees to complete required safety courses.

For additional information on how to complete assigned online safety courses, please see

Online Safety Training Tutorial

Questions regarding online safety training courses may be directed to:
Laurie Lyons, Program Specialist
Systemwide Safety Programs
Laurie_E_Lyons@mcpsmd.org

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Bloodborne Pathogen Information

Background

Bloodborne pathogens are defined as pathogenic 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) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). All blood and other potentially infectious materials will be handled as if contaminated by bloodborne pathogens. When differentiation between body fluids (if they contain blood) is difficult or impossible, all body fluids will be considered potentially infectious materials.

Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030 requires employers to establish a control plan to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Information from MCPS Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Guidelines is provided below.

Confidential Information

Information regarding individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV is confidential, and this information must remain confidential. It is a violation of one’s privacy to inform school staff, students, and/or the community of an individual who is HIV positive or who has auto immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) without the permission from the individual, or in the case of a minor, permission from a parent/guardian.

Exposure to Blood/What to Do

Ensure employee notifies his/her supervisor immediately.

Have immediate supervisor call in a “First Notice of Loss” to CorVel (Montgomery County claims reporting program) at 1-888-606-2562.
Contact appropriate staff to clean up blood spills using universal precautions and a bloodborne pathogens clean-up kit.
Have appropriate staff dispose of blood-contaminated waste in the red biohazard box located in the school health room.
When the red biohazard box is full, have the school health nurse contact Biomedical Waste Services, Inc. at 1-800-660-6581 for waste disposal pick-up and a replacement biohazard box, red bag, and lid.
Have the employee contact one of the two MCPS-contracted clinics listed below (within 24 hours) to receive a post-exposure medical evaluation and follow-up interview.

Medical Access, 12321 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874, 301-428-1070
Secure Medical Care, 803 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879, 301-869-0700

Have the employee complete MCPS Form 230-33: Bloodborne Pathogens Post-Exposure Report, as soon as possible. The form should be provided to the examining physician. Additional copies must be provided, within five days of the incident, to the Employee and Retiree Service Center (ERSC) and Systemwide Safety Programs. The employee must also provide the examining physician MCPS Form 230-34: Health Care Professional's Written Opinion Form, which must be sent to Systemwide Safety Programs by the physician.

Mandated Bloodborne Pathogen Training

Annual online training must be completed by designated employees, including all teachers and other school-based employees, with the potential for occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. Required online bloodborne pathogen exposure prevention courses are available through Professional Development Online (PDO). When designated employees log in to their PDO account, assigned safety courses will appear under the “required” courses section of the page. The online bloodborne pathogen courses replace all previous VHS and DVD-based training. Additional information about registering and completing online training is available at the Online Safety Training section of this page.

Hepatitis Vaccinations

All employees required to receive bloodborne pathogen exposure prevention training are offered, but not required to receive, Hepatitis B vaccinations, at no cost. To receive the vaccine, employees must submit MCPS Form 230-32: Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination Authorization Form to Systemwide Safety Programs. After authorization is received, employees may contact one of the two MCPS-contracted clinics listed below for vaccination. Employees who received vaccination 10 or more years ago from an MCPS-contracted clinic should make an appointment with one of these two clinics to receive a titer test. This test will determine if a booster vaccination is necessary.

Medical Access, 12321 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874, 301-428-1070

Secure Medical Care, 803 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879, 301-869-0700

Hand Washing

Hand washing is a critical deterrent to the transmission of infectious organisms. Hand washing should be encouraged after using the toilet and immediately before eating. Hand washing is essential before and after any situation when hands might come in direct contact with blood, human or animal body secretions, and excretions. The importance of hand washing cannot be undermined by the belief that it is impractical. Adequate hand washing facilities must be available at all times. Good hand washing includes the following procedures:

Ensure that each hand sink is supplied with dispensed soap and disposable paper towels.
Alcohol-based (at least 60% alcohol) hand sanitizer should be provided where water is not available. Hand sanitizer should not be used instead of hand washing when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
Wet hands thoroughly with running water.
Dispense soap into wet hands; bar soap may be used if dispensed soap is unavailable.
Lather soap by vigorously rubbing hands together for at least 20 seconds, paying particular attention to the backs of the hands, nails, cuticles, spaces between the fingers, and under jewelry.
Wash hands above the wrist level.
Rinse hands thoroughly.
Dry hands using a disposable paper towel; avoid the use of common towels.
Use the paper towel to turn off the water.
Dispose of the paper towel in a waste receptacle.

Biohazard Waste

Each school health room has a biohazard waste box and lid with red biohazard bag. A sign titled, Contaminated Blood/Body Fluid Disposal Procedures, is posted above the box (replacement signs may be requested from Systemwide Safety Programs). Biomedical Waste Services (the MCPS contractor for biohazard waste removal) can be reached at 1-800-660-6581 to request a pickup when the biohazard container and/or sharps container is full.

For additional information, please refer to:

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Mr. Peter Park, Team Leader, Systemwide Safety Programs, Department of Facilities Management, at 240-314-1070 or via e-mail.