As foodservice and housekeeping workers we might find it necessary, at some point, to help a co-worker who has been injured and is bleeding. We might also find that in the scope of our job we will have to clean up areas where bloodborne pathogens, such as blood or other bodily fluids may have been present. These conditions are considered biological hazards, or "biohazards." It is natural to be concerned about the co-worker and with doing our job. But at the same time we must be concerned with protecting ourselves from infection that this "Good Samaritan" act and the "reasonably anticipated" result of doing our job might lead to.

1. Blood or other infectious body fluids such as saliva, semen, vaginal secretions coming in contact with:

• Mucous membranes: eyes, nose, mouth
• Non-intact skin: cuts, abrasions, burns, rashes, paper cuts on skin surface

1. Handling or touching contaminated (infectious) materials, or surfaces.

An individual may have Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and not know it, because of the long incubation period (time from exposure to disease and time symptoms begin to show). For this reason, all human blood and body fluids should be treated as if they are infectious, and all precautions should be taken to avoid contact. This rule is known as "universal precautions."

• HBV is a viral infection, could persist for years and lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. HIV is a viral infection and causes AIDS.
• HBV is more persistent than HIV and is able to survive for at least one week in dried blood on environmental surfaces. HIV will not survive more than a few minutes when exposed to room temperature air and will usually die within seconds.
• A teaspoon of HBV infected blood may contain over a billion HBV particles. A teaspoon of HIV infected blood contains about 15 particles.
• HBV usually has mild symptoms making diagnosis difficult. HIV infections usually are not diagnosed for years and symptoms may not appear for months or years.
• HBV can by prevented by a vaccine (series of three shots over a 6-month period). There is none for HIV.
• There is no cure for HBV or HIV at present.

• Cleaning floors and bathrooms
• Disposing of garbage
• Washing clothes or bedding, removing bedding
• Coming into contact with any sharp edged object
• Contact with a person who is bleeding

• Rubber (latex/nitrile) gloves and disposal (examination-type) gloves (known as barriers) are available and are to be worn when performing these tasks. Change them often during your shift or when they get torn.
• If coming in contact with blood or bodily fluids, safety glasses or goggles (barriers) must be worn.
• Report any bloody bandages, Band-Aids, etc. to onboard First Responder, or Medic immediately for proper disposal.
• Wash the exposed (environment) area with soap and a sanitizer solution (10:1 mixture of water to bleach).
• Wash hands immediately after each task with anti-bacterial soap or mild solution of water and bleach immediately for at least 20 seconds, even though gloves were worn.
• If exposed, flush eyes, nose with water.
• Once possible exposure has been reported to on-board First Responder, or Medic, then notify SONOCO office.
• Wash and sanitize gloves, or dispose of and get replacements.

Any SONOCO personnel who have been exposed to bloodborne pathogens shall be treated immediately according to current medical practices. Records shall be kept to reflect this treatment.

Biological hazard warnings signify an actual or potential presence of a biohazard. They identify equipment, containers, rooms, materials, experimental animals, or any combination of these, which contain, or are contaminated with, viable hazardous agents. An example of this warning: