Infectious Disease Checklist

1. Designate a person to be in charge of the Infectious Disease Program.

2. Make an exposure determination for all employees who have a possible exposure to blood or potentially infectious material. 

3. Use "Universal Precautions." Treat all exposures to blood as if they are infectious.

4. Establish a written program for Infectious Disease Control.

5. Train all new employees on the effects of Infectious Diseases prior to putting them to work. Test for verbal recall. Do annual refresher training.

6. Maintain annual training records for the Infectious Disease Program.

7. Provide personal protective equipment: gloves, gowns, goggles/masks, and resuscitation equipment. This must be furnished at no cost to the employee.

8. If personal protective equipment is non-disposable, then cleaning must be done at no cost to employee.

9. Establish a hand-washing policy.

10. Use an EPA approved disinfectant after cleaning blood spills.

11. Transport linen soiled with blood or body fluids in leakproof bags.

12. Make sure the person picking up and transporting the linen wears gloves.

13. Provide sharps containers in the areas where the sharps are used.

14. Make sure all waste receptacles are covered and are leakproof.

15. Put all infectious waste in leakproof bags.

16. Label all infectious waste by using a "RED" color-coded bag or one that is labeled "BIOHAZARD."

17. Make sure the following are labeled until properly cleaned or disposed of: (waste, equipment, rooms, linen).

18. Offer Hepatitis B vaccinations to all employees who are exposed to blood or any other potentially infectious material.

19. Establish a follow-up procedure for persons who have an exposure incident to blood or any other potentially infectious material.

20. Maintain an OSHA 200 log.

21. Make sure and have a Tennessee OSHA poster posted at your place of employment.

22. Never recap needles by hand.

23. Dispose of infectious or medical waste according to all local, state and federal regulations.

24. Have a method to make sure that these policies are implemented and enforced.

25. Disinfect or sterilize reusable equipment.