BEMIDJI, Minn. — The Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation will host a Wednesday, Dec. 19, presentation, “Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens.”
The program, presented by the Northern Minnesota Safety Council, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the CRI, an off-campus facility located at 3801 Bemidji Avenue North in Bemidji.
A $20 fee will be charged to cover the price of materials and lunch. Advance registration is encouraged in order to guarantee lunch and materials by calling the CRI at (218) 755-4900; toll free, (888) 738-3224. A registration form is also available on line at http://www.cri-bsu.org.
Presenting will be Jeff Wasvick, occupational health consultant with the Workplace Safety Consultation Unit, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Twin Cities office.
His presentation will review in detail the requirements employers must follow according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard – 29 CRF 1910.1030, a standard that’s applicable whenever an employer assigns duties that put employees at risk of coming into contact with human blood or other defined body fluids. It’s designed to minimize or eliminate the risk of employees contracting bloodborne transmitted infectious diseases on the job.
The session is designed for those responsible for worker safety, including safety officers and infection control coordinators. The OSHA standard is applicable to any workplace where an employer assigns workers first aid response duties as part of their jobs and includes, but is not confined to, setting such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental offices, funeral homes and emergency response services.
Attendees will receive a copy of the PowerPoint presentation used by the instructor and information pertaining to additional resources available on the Web.
Wasvick noted the presentation is not designed for workers at these sites and does not satisfy the worker training requirements required by OHSA, as that training must be site specific.
Wasvick has more than 23 years of experience with the Minnesota OSHA program, more than three years as an industrial hygienist with MnOSHA compliance and 20 years as a senior industrial hygienist with the compliance program. He specializes in the area of occupational health concerns, providing employers assistance through on-site industrial hygiene consultations, health standards training and technical phone assistance.
The session is part of a monthly series sponsored by the CRI and the Northern Minnesota Safety Council and designed for those professionals who are responsible for the safety of their organizations. Offered the third Wednesday of each month, they feature experts from around the state discussing a variety of topics related to safety.
Groups on the Bemidji Area Safety Council helping organize the monthly safety presentations include Bi-County CAP, Beltrami County, North Central Door Company, Potlatch and Tri-Valley.
Individuals who wish to be added to a mailing list for the series or have questions should contact the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900; toll free, (888) 738-3224; email, cri@bemidjistate.edu.
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Dec. 19 – 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Northern Minnesota Safety Council presentation, “Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens.” Location: Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation; 3801 Bemidji Ave. N, Bemidji. Cost: $20. For information: (218) 755-4900; (888) 738-3244; http://www.cri-bsu.org.