Innkeeper Insights: Safely Cleaning Up Bodily Fluids

Though you may not expect to encounter blood or other bodily fluids while working at a bed and breakfast or inn, sometimes the atmosphere can bring on unusual behavior — fights, public urination or vomiting from excessive intoxication, etc. As a result, you and your team must be prepared to protect each other from bloodborne pathogens and other infectious materials that can be hazardous to your health.

How to Minimize the Risks of Cleaning Up Bodily Fluids

Blood and other body fluids can contain microbes that cause illness and disease upon exposure. This may happen when you’re handling and disposing of contaminated trash or waste or cleaning up after an unpleasant situation. To minimize exposure, consider the following tips:

• Cover any open wounds or cuts to protect against unnecessary exposure.
• Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This may include gloves, protective eye goggles and/or a mask. Dispose of contaminated protection properly in a leak-proof container that’s marked for disposal or decontamination.
• If you have not been trained on the proper use of PPE, do not clean up a mess involving blood or bodily fluids.
• Wash yourself thoroughly after removing PPE.
• Use good work practices and common sense while cleaning up blood and bodily fluids. Try to avoid splashing these materials as you soak them up.
• Clean and disinfect all equipment and surfaces in contact with blood or other infectious material safely.
• Know the proper response for accidental personal exposure so you won’t panic when you need to act fast.

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created a set of guidelines for protecting workers from bloodborne pathogen health hazards. The standard provides insight into exposure control plans, vaccinations, hazard communication, employee training and recordkeeping. It’s crucial to implement these steps into your protocol when an employee could be exposed to such fluids.

• Establish an exposure control plan.
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Treat every instance as if pathogens are present.
• Make vaccinations available to employees after exposure.

Responding to Exposure

If you or anyone on your team is exposed to blood or other bodily fluids, take the following steps:

• Wash the affected area thoroughly.
• Promptly receive follow-up medical care from your doctor or other medical professional.

If your eyes, mouth or broken skin come in contact with blood or any other infectious material, flush the area with water and request immediate medical treatment. You may also have to do the following:

• Document what occurred.
• Identify and test the source of the fluids, if possible.
• Test your blood for possible disease exposure.
• Receive counseling treatment after the incident.

No Code Reds with CBIZ Innkeepers Insurance

Minimize your risk of exposure by recognizing sources of contamination and learning what steps to take to protect yourself and your team following an exposure incident. For other risk mitigation solutions, connect with a team member at CBIZ Innkeeper Insurance to learn more.

This blog may contain scenarios that are provided as examples only. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. The information provided is general in nature and may be affected by changes in law or the interpretation of such laws. The reader is advised to contact a professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.

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