Transmission in the Workplace

All workers need to have training about how to take care of an injured worker . . . and deal with any blood spills.

It is extremely important for the steward to clearly understand how AIDS is transmitted and to constantly reinforce this information among co-workers. Here are the basics: 

• AIDS is a set of one or more diseases that arise because of a damaged immune system. 
  
  
• The AIDS virus can live only in blood, or certain body fluids that contain blood cells, such as breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids (including menstrual discharge). 
  
  
• Dried blood, semen or vaginal fluids still contain the virus. The virus is inactivated because it is not in liquid form, but it is still dangerous. Don’t touch these things without rubber or latex gloves. 
  
  
• To cause infection, the virus has to get inside a person’s body, either through a break in the skin or through contact with mucosa (naturally wet) skin like the eyes, nose, mouth, or "below the belt" in the genitals or rectum. 
  
  
• Any blood or other body fluids outside the body can be cleaned up with a cleaning solution of one part bleach in nine parts water. This will rip apart the virus within 30 seconds of contact. Rubbing alcohol and ammonia-based hospital disinfectant will do the same thing, also in 30 seconds.
  
  

We know that the actual AIDS virus, HIV, is very small. Because the AIDS virus is so small, it has a very limited number of places where it can survive. Any major change in its environment will either inactivate or kill the virus. 

• HIV needs a mildly salty liquid to live in (like blood). 
  
  
• HIV needs to be in wet (or at least moist) blood in order to survive and reproduce. 
  
  
• The moist blood also has to be relatively warm (but not hot). 
  
  
• And HIV can’t be in contact with alcohol, bleach or other strong cleaning agents like ammonia. 
  
  

By now you should have the idea that the virus is going to be transmitted only in blood, or in body products that contain blood, like semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk, amniotic fluid and a number of other liquids from inside the body that are not normally exposed except during surgery.

It is extremely unlikely that you will come into contact with blood or other blood-containing fluids in your workplace, unless you work in health care, law enforcement, or in some kind of facility where people are living overnight or where there is a high potential for violent or unexpected behavior. If you work in one of these areas, you should receive special training on blood-borne diseases and methods to protect yourself against infection.

The one addition might be a jobsite where people use sharp-edged tools or machinery. In those places, accidents can happen where people get injured and bleed. To handle an accident, all workers need to have training about how to take care of an injured worker and deal with any blood spills. If you work around sharp equipment or tools, you should know how to handle an accident — especially if blood is involved. If you need help, contact your local or council and arrange for training. Don’t put it off.

  

Remember: Except for "blood-exposure" situations, there is no danger of catching the AIDS virus at work.