Additional Resources

 

Significant Exposure Reporting Packet

Protocol for employee reporting of significant work exposure to bodily fluids or other infectious material

What Is a Significant Exposure Under the Arizona Workers’ Compensation Act?

Northern Arizona University (NAU) has established this directive to guide employees (and their supervisors) in response to a significant exposure at work, which generally means contact of an employee’s ruptured or broken skin or mucous membrane with another person’s blood, semen, vaginal fluid, surgical fluid(s) or any other fluid(s) containing blood or other potentially infectious material.

A report of significant work exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or other potentially infectious materials may be made by completing an Industrial Commission of Arizona (AZICA) Bodily Fluids Work Exposure Form that reports this exposure. Additional information and a fillable form can be found on the AZICA website.

If you believe that you have had a significant exposure, promptly initiate the following steps:   

  1. First aid
    • Wash needle sticks and cuts with soap and water.
    • Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.
    • Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or other sterile irrigant.
  2. Notify your supervisor as soon as possible
  3. At the earliest opportunity, preferably within 24 hours of your exposure, complete the Online Report of Injury form with your supervisor, and submit the completed form to NAU Human Resources (HR). Retain a copy for your records. HR will submit this document to Arizona State Risk Management.
  4. Seek medical attention. NAU Employees who experience exposure at work will receive standard medical testing as prescribed for the exposure at no cost to the employee. If an infection occurs as a result of your exposure, a workers’ compensation claim will be opened within the provisions of the Arizona Workers’ Compensation Law, and the rules of the Industrial Commission of Arizona. Note: An employee must consult a physician to support a claim. The following Health Care Providers (HCPs) have working knowledge of NAU’s Significant Work Exposure Protocol:
  5. If you have specific information about the infectious agent to which you were exposed, or a current vaccination record, make those available to the HCP at the time of your first visit.
  6. Inform the HCP that fees incurred for vaccinations, lab work or treatment as a result of this exposure will be covered by Northern Arizona University and should be sent to: NAU Human Resources, PO Box 4113, Flagstaff, AZ 86011.
    • Additional Resources:
  7. The reporting form for significant work exposure to bodily fluids or other infectious material can be found on the Industrial Commission of Arizona’s website: www.azica.gov.