Health Care Department Operations Manual

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Chapter 3 – Health Care Operations

Article 2 – Health and Safety

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3.2.2 Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Control

  • Policy

    • The California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Warden, and executive teams at each CDCR institution shall ensure protective measures are in place to reduce the transmission of infections via Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) and Aerosol Transmissible Pathogens – Laboratory (ATP-L) in order to comply with the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CalOSHA) ATD Standards under the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 8, Section 5199, as well as related local health officer orders by:

    • Completing and fully implementing the provisions of the CCHCS and CDCR ATD Exposure Control Plan (ECP) and Biosafety Plan (BSP) Local Operating Procedure (LOP) templates.

    • Naming an onsite ATD ECP Administrator and back-up Administrator, and an onsite Biosafety Officer.

    • Assigning a manager to ensure that each employee with occupational exposure has documented either immunity, vaccination, or declination for certain vaccines as mandated by CalOSHA, a health officer, or similar authorities.

    • Ensuring that staff use respirators and masks as indicated by the CalOSHA ATD Standards under the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5199, Section 5144, and each work site’s written Respiratory Protection Program Plan, and the LOPs.

  • Purpose

    • To minimize CCHCS and CDCR staff risks of occupational ATD and ATP-L exposure, morbidity, and mortality.

  • Responsibility

    • The CEO and Warden, or their designees, at each institution are responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of this policy.

  • Procedure

    • ATD ECP and BSP LOP Templates

      • The ATD ECP and BSP LOP Templates can be found at the following link: CDCR IIPP ATD Biosafety – Home (sharepoint.com) for staff with permissions to the SharePoint site.

      • The ATD administrator or biosafety officer shall ensure that the ATD ECP and BSP LOPs are site specific for their procedures and operations.

      • The site specific ATD ECP and BSP LOPs shall be uploaded within seven days of completion into the SharePoint site at CDCR IIPP ATD Biosafety – Home (sharepoint.com) within the site specific folder.

      • Institutions shall submit copies of their completed site-specific ATD ECP and BSP LOPs to their respective Regional Health Care Executive (RHCE), Associate Director (AD), and to Employee Health (EH) at EHP@cdcr.ca.gov.

      • The Warden, CEO, and executive team at each CDCR institution shall:

        • Ensure that the ATD ECP and BSP LOP templates are completed, reviewed, locally approved, and submitted to the RHCE, AD, EH, and at EHP@cdcr.ca.gov upon initial development and each revision.

        • Review the approved ATD ECP and BSP LOPs annually at a minimum or when regulatory changes occur and revise the LOPs as necessary.

        • Immediately notify institutional staff that the ATD ECP and BSP LOPs are posted according to site specific LOPs in compliance with CalOSHA ATD Standards under the CCR, Title 8, Section 5199.

    • Training

      • The Wardens and CEOs shall ensure that all staff with occupational exposure participate in a training program and shall ensure training is provided as follows:

        • At the time of initial assignment where occupational exposure may take place.

        • At least annually thereafter, not to exceed 12 months from the previous training.

        • A general explanation of ATDs including the sign and symptoms of ATDs that require further medical evaluation.

        • An explanation of the use and limitations of methods that will prevent or reduce exposure to Aerosol Transmissible Pathogens (ATPs) or ATPs-L including appropriate engineering and work practice controls, decontamination and disinfection procedures, personal protective equipment, and personal respiratory protective equipment.

        • Every training program shall include an opportunity for interactive questions and answers with a person who is knowledgeable in the subject matter of the training as it relates to the workplace that the training addresses and who is also knowledgeable in the staff’s ATD exposure control or biosafety plan.

        • Training not given in person shall fulfill all the subject matter requirements pursuant to the CCR, Title 8, Section 5199, subsection (i)(4) and shall provide for interactive questions to be answered within 24 hours by a person who is knowledgeable in the subject matter.

    • Reporting Requirements

      • The Wardens and CEOs shall ensure the requirements for reporting are followed pursuant to CCR, Title 8, Section 5199 subsection (h).

    • Record Keeping

      • The Wardens and CEOs shall ensure an accurate record for each staff with occupational exposure is maintained, pursuant to CCR, Title 8, Sections 5199 and 3204.

  • References

    • California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Section 3204

    • California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Group 16, Article 107, Section 5144

    • California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Group 16, Article 109, Section 5199

  • Revision History

    • Effective: 05/2017
      Revised: 01/30/2024