How to Handle Blood Cleanup from a Work Accident
Industries that involve physical labor such as construction, manufacturing, distribution, and others have a high risk of employee injury. When a work accident occurs, it will most likely involve blood. Anything from a minor cut to a major injury can draw blood. Because blood is the most commonly encountered bodily fluid in workplace accidents, it is important for employees to know how to handle blood cleanup situation when they encounter it. Blood safety starts with a protocol put in place by the employer. The employees must also understand the potential danger of handling blood before approaching the situation.
Blood Cleanup Protocols
Just about every type of employer should have a blood cleaning protocol in place. It is possible for employees in any job to experience an injury at work that involves blood. For as common as it is to encounter blood, it is very important to remember that blood is a biohazard material and mishandling it can be dangerous. One option is for employers to provide training for their employees in blood cleanup so that they can take care of it safely in house. Without the proper training, you must leave blood and biohazard cleanup to the professionals.
Blood cleanup can be potentially dangerous because blood contains disease causing agents such as viruses or bacteria that can spread easily to your employees. It is impossible to know the health condition of an employee that has lost blood. Therefore, you must treat all blood spills as potentially dangerous. If an employee that is not properly trained attempts to cleanup blood, they can seriously compromise their health and safety as well as that of others.
Reacting to a Work Accident
When a work accident occurs, the first priority is to make sure the injured worker gets immediate medical attention. After the injured worker has received the proper attention, block off the affected area to help protect the other employees and call a certified biohazard cleanup professional. These professionals will effectively remove the blood and stains as well as disinfect the entire area. This helps prevent the spread of any infection or disease. You should not hesitate to call a blood cleanup professional to get your workspace back to a safe condition.
Work accidents are something almost every employer must deal with. Having a blood safety protocol in place will help keep your employees safe in the event of an accident. Providing blood safety training and certification for your employees will allow them to handle the situation themselves. However, without the proper training and certification, a professional must handle the blood cleanup. Quick, smart actions are the key to helping an injured worker and protecting the safety of your employees.