Glossary of Safety Terms
Bloodborne Pathogens: Pathogenic microorganisms that may be present in human blood or OPIM (Other potentially infected materials) and can infect and cause disease in persons who are exposed to blood or OPIM containing the pathogen. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Bloodborne pathogens are spread through percutaneous or mucocutaneous exposure with contaminated blood and bodily fluids.
Contaminated: Any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including, but not limited to, needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, and exposed ends of dental wires.
Engineering Controls: The 2002 Infection Control Guidelines released by Health Canada state that:
"Engineering Controls decrease healthcare workers (HCWs) exposure to a hazard by reducing the hazard at the source, e.g. design modifications for sharp instruments making them safer and less likely to pierce the skin of HCWs, potentially exposing them to bloodborne pathogens."
It further states that:
"Early attempts to control exposures to blood and bodily fluids focused on the use of safety guidelines and education. However, evidence indicated that this did not lead to fewer needlestick injuries. Engineering controls were recommended as a more effective way to control healthcare worker exposures…"
Exposure Control Plan (ECP): A written plan that identifies those tasks and procedures in which occupational exposure may occur, and identifies the positions whose duties include those tasks and procedures identified as having occupational exposure. The exposure control plan must be reviewed and updated regularly. The exposure control plan should also document the consideration and implementation of "safer medical devices."
Exposure Incident: A specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee’s duties.
HBV: Hepatitis B virus
HCV: Hepatitis C virus
HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
Occupational Exposure: A reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee's duties. "Reasonably anticipated" includes the potential for contact as well as actual contact with blood or OPIM.
Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM): Certain listed human bodily fluids, any bodily fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood and all bodily fluids where it cannot be determined if they are contaminated. Coverage under this definition also extends to blood and tissues of experimental animals who are infected with HIV or HBV.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Special clothing and equipment worn by employees for protection against hazards, i.e. equipment that does not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through or reach the employees' clothing, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time which the protective equipment will be used. This would include, for example gloves, lab coat, face shield, surgical gown, and protective footwear.
Safety-Engineered Medical Devices or Safer Medical Devices: Medical devices with integrated features to prevent or minimize the risk of an exposure incident. This would include needleless devices as well as needle-based products with hinged or sliding shields, or other such mechanisms for covering or protecting the needle point after use.
Sharps Object Injury: An injury caused by an object that can be reasonably anticipated to penetrate the skin or any other part of the body, and to result in an exposure incident, including but not limited to, needle devices, scalpels, lancets, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, exposed ends of dental wires, and dental knives, drills and burs.
Source Individual: Any individual, living or dead, whose blood or OPIM may be a source of occupational exposure to the employee.
Universal Precautions: The term "universal precautions" refers to a concept of bloodborne disease control which requires that all human blood and OPIM be treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, HCV or other bloodborne pathogens, regardless of the perceived low risk status of a patient or patient population.
Work Practice Controls: The manner of performing an activity or procedure in a way that minimizes the potential for injury. This includes the way employees do their work, the tools they work with, the protective equipment they wear, and the willingness to help each other (e.g. prohibiting recapping of needles by two-handed technique).
Source: Adapted from OSHA Pathogens Standard, 1910.1030, Section B.