Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

Illegal Harassment
Humboldt General Hospital strictly prohibits sexual harassment and unlawful harassment because of gender, race, color, religion, age, disability, national origin and any other basis made unlawful by any applicable law or ordinance or regulation. Prohibited harassment that impairs an employees working ability or directly impacts their emotional well-being at work violates this policy and will not be tolerated. Violation of the policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

Drug & Alcohol Free Workplace

Humboldt General Hospital is committed to: Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for all employees and the public; When appropriate, taking disciplinary action for failure to comply with this policy. HGH prohibits employees from possessing open containers of alcoholic beverages while conducting business. HGH maintains a stand of zero tolerance for working under the influence of alcohol and prohibits employees from working with any blood alcohol level. Alcohol, illegal drugs, and other substances which may impair the safety or welfare of employees or the public may not be brought onto the premises controlled by HGH or placed in vehicles or equipment operated on behalf of HGH. Any alleged violations of this policy should be reported immediately to a supervisor. Employment with HGH is contingent upon, among other things, compliance with this policy. This policy is not intended to create a contract, nor is it to be construed to constitute a contractual obligation of any kind or a contract of employment between HGH and any of its employees. All employees are employed at will, and either HGH or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without reason or notice.

Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

PEP POLICY
PURPOSE: To clearly explain risk levels, how to handle contaminated materials and how to protect you from exposure.

BACKGROUND: HGH EMS works hard to keep patients well; and it cares equally about keeping you, its skilled employee, safe and healthy. To help protect you from the risks that can come from working around infectious diseases, HGH EMS wants you to know more about them. What You Dont Know Can Hurt You You can only protect yourself if you know the hazards in your workplace. Some you already may know about- like the risk of AIDS. Government agencies such as the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) have outlined such dangers and state-of-the art safety guidelines. The message is clear: you can understand your risks and take steps to protect yourself and your co-workers. Safety Guidelines Work For You Safety guidelines arent designed to make your job difficult. They protect you and help you achieve your right to a safe and healthy workplace. Make them work for you. Know the hazards; threats from infectious disease and common hospital material can be hard to spot. Learning to recognize them can help save your life. Protect yourself; your protection comes from using personal protective equipment (PPE), following safe work practices, and staying alert on the job. Work as a team; working as a team with your employer is the best way to make your workplace as safe as possible for you, your co-workers, and patients. Protect Yourself: Know the CDC and OSHA guidelines Your workplace has a complete safety program for your protection. It stems largely from two government agencies: CDC has developed new infection control guidelines for you if you come in contact with blood and other body fluids. OSHA enforces these guidelines and also enforces its own safety regulations if you work with hazardous material. Safety guidelines are based on your potential for contact with hazardous viruses, bacteria, and dangerous materials. If you have questions about safe work practices, talk to your supervisor.

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Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

Guidelines for Infection Control Guidelines for infection control fall into three categories depending on your potential for contact with body fluids. These fluids include blood, wound drainage, pulmonary secretions, urine, feces, semen, vaginal secretions, and vomit. CATEGORY 1: HIGH RISK If your patient contact falls into Category 1, you are likely to have contact with patients blood or other body fluids. The patients you work with often are seriously ill or injured. Protective equipment and clothing are a must for you own safety. CATEGORY 2: LOW RISK If your routine patient contact falls into Category 2, you are not likely to have contact with patients blood or other body fluids. Although, you may work closely with patients, such as delivering them food trays, but youre not at risk and wont have to wear protective equipment. A Look at Infectious Diseases Hospitals used to isolate patients with known or suspected infections that could be transmitted to other patients or health care workers. Now they know that patients showing no obvious symptoms may be carrying infectious viruses and bacteria. For your safety, hospitals now advise you to follow strict infection control guidelines when contact with blood and other body fluids are anticipated. Treat blood and other body fluids from ALL PATIENTS as potentially infectious. The Major Concerns Hepatitis B and AIDS are the most serious viruses that could infect you. Hepatitis B strikes as many as 18,000 health care workers each year. It weakens the liver, causing flu-like symptoms and can be fatal. The AIDS virus attacks the immune system and leads to death. It is much more difficult-but still possible-to transmit to health care workers. Handling Blood and Body Fluids You need to handle blood and body fluids from ALL PATIENTS as potentially infectious, so diseases like hepatitis B and AIDs dont have to infect you. Without protection, a virus can enter your body through an accidental needle stick, by being splashed into your eyes, nose, or mouth through a cut in your skin.

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Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

How to Protect Yourself By following the hospitals guidelines, you can help protect yourself and your co-workers. These precautions werent meant to make your life more difficult, but to save it. Infection control guidelines exist to protect you against infectious viruses and bacteria. The precautions you should take will depend on your potential for contact with blood and other body fluids. Read the hospital policy and procedure for universal precautions/body substance isolation. Know where it is located in your area, and review it periodically. Contact the Infection Control Nurse or your supervisor if you have any questions about protecting yourself. Category 1: High Risk If you work in the laboratory, surgery, emergency room, critical care, medical-surgical floor or have contact with needles, either in care of patients or in disposing of them, you have the highest chance of exposure to blood and other body fluids. You need to follow infection control guidelines: they were written with your in mind: Wash your hands if you touch blood or other body fluids and after removing gloves. Cover, open, exposed wounds with a dressing. Wear gloves, aprons or gowns if you may contact blood or other body fluids. Wear eye protection and face masks if blood and other body fluids could splash into your eyes, mouth or nose. Never recap, bend or break needles. Place used needles in the provided containers. Clean up blood and other body fluid spills immediately with proper cleaning agent. Dispose of waste materials according to the hospital infection control guidelines. Handle linen soiled with blood or other body fluids with gloves. Place it in a secured bag prior to transport. Use easily accessible pocket masks and resuscitation bags. Get a vaccination for hepatitis B if you are likely to have contact with blood and other body fluids. No mouth pipetting in the laboratory.

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Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

Category 2: Low Risk In Category 2, you may have close contact with patients, but youre not likely to come in contact with blood and other body fluids. You usually wont have to wear protective equipment, but learn to anticipate when you could enter a more high-risk situation. Then dont think twice about wearing protective equipment. Checking and IV: you wont have to wear protective clothing when checking an IV. However, when you start the IV and inject a needle into a patients arm, wear gloves and dispose of the needle correctly. Changing bed linen: When youre changing bed linen, protective equipment isnt usually needed. But if the linen is soiled with blood or other body fluids, wear gloves and a gown if there is the possibility of blood and body fluids coming into contact with skin or clothing. Treating a Patient: In normal patient care, such as listening to heart beat with a stethoscope, PPE (personal protective equipment) is not required. If there is a chance that blood or body fluids will be contacted, take the proper precautions, such as wearing gloves. Category 3: No Risk In Category 3, your routine work requires no contact with blood and other body fluids. In these situations, youre unlikely to contract viruses or bacteria, even from infected patients. As a general precaution, wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking. No other infection control guidelines are required. Touching: Casual contact with patients, such as holding a hand or taking pulse or blood pressure, will not put you at risk for contracting a disease. Serving food: Serving food or entering a room with and infected patient will not increase your risk of developing such diseases as Hepatitis B or AIDS. Taking X-rays: You can take x-rays or provide any number of health care services, such as physical therapy, for patients without increasing your risk of contracting a serious disease.

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Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

Special Cases Patients with a respiratory infection such as TB may stay in a special room so their cough wont transmit their illness. You and other visitors should wear a mask when entering the rooms so airborne disease wont infect you. There is a list of diseases transmitted by the airborne route in the policy and procedure for Universal Precautions. Refer to that list to see if a patient needs to be placed in one of the special isolation rooms on the medical/surgical floor or in the special care unit. Work as a Team Teamwork in infection control pays high dividends to yourself and to your hospital. Accidents dont just happen. Mot can be avoided completely if you and your supervisor work together to keep your work place safe. The Hospitals Role The hospital has clear guidelines for keeping you safe on the job and is demonstrating its commitment by giving you up-to-date information. The hospital supports your right to know about hazards in your work area and provides you with training so you can protect yourself. Safety awareness and your actions make a difference for everyone. Your Role Performing you job well means following the hospitals guidelines for infection control and safe handling of hazards. But not every danger is obvious so your role is also to assess the hazards around you, anticipate what could be a problem, and avoid the danger or work safely around it. You not only will help protect yourselfyou may even save lives. Be Sure to Remember Remember, what you dont know CAN hurt you. Follow these guidelines to keep yourself safe. Know your potential for exposure to blood and other body fluids and wear the appropriate personal protective equipment. Dont recap, bend or break needles. Dispose of them in the provided containers. Wash hands frequently, especially after removing gloves. Know the hospitals waste disposal policy. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact your supervisor and/or the Infection Control Nurse. 5|Page

Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

Personal Appearance Policy

PURPOSE: To clearly define acceptable uniform standards for the Burning Man event. BACKGROUND: Staff of all positions will be supplied with an event shirt and identification badge. It will be the responsibility of the employee to provide appropriate footwear, pants and shoes. Issued event shirt and identification badge shall be worn during shifted hours. APPEARANCE: Modification to event issued shirt must preserve modesty. Personal hygiene and sanitation shall not inhibit patient care or team cohesiveness. Protective, OSHA compliant footwear shall be worn when shifted. Those employees who wear long hair are expected to keep their hair in tied back fashion. Hats are permitted. No clothing or jewelry with offensive logos. Temperatures on the playa reach extreme highs (100F+) to lows (30F) or lower at night time. IT will be the responsibility of the employee to provide their own clothing and protective gear for these extremes.

Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Division of Burning Man Medical Operations

Termination Policy

I acknowledge that any deviance from these policies and procedures may result in immediate termination from Humboldt General Hospital Burning Man Medical Staff Team.