Workplace Safety: Safe Lifting, Transfers and Bloodborne Pathogens
Protect your back with lifts and good transfers, prevent bloodborne pathogen exposure, act fast after a needlestick, and stay safe at work.
ForNursing home, Home health, Hospice staff
TimeAbout 78 minutes
Lessons10, each with a quick check
FinishA quiz (80% to pass) and a printable certificate of completion
What you will learn
Name your basic rights under federal safety law.
Know that lifting and moving people is a top cause of aide injuries.
Follow the care plan's transfer method every time.
Know that turning and boosting in bed are high-risk tasks.
Name the main bloodborne pathogens.
Know that your employer has a written exposure control plan you can see.
Know what counts as a sharp.
Wash or flush the area right away.
Know the common hazards of working in clients' homes.
Know what workplace violence is and why it happens in nursing homes.
Hands-on part. Part of this topic needs a hands-on check with your supervisor; this online course does not cover that part.
Safe lifting and transfers: hands-on practice (Nursing home, Home health, Hospice). A supervisor watches the worker move a person (or a stand-in) with your own lifts, slings, gait belts and transfer methods, and marks it done with the date and their name.
Bloodborne pathogens: live questions and answers (Nursing home, Home health, Hospice). A person who knows the subject as it applies to your workplace holds a live session (in person or in real time), explains your exposure control plan and how to get a copy, and answers the worker's questions. A supervisor marks it done with the date and the trainer's name.
Written by Pact Compliance from federal rules and CDC, CMS, OSHA and NIH guidance (sources under each lesson), checked October 2026. Where your facility's policy is different, follow your facility's policy.
Lesson 1: Your Right to a Safe Workplace
In this lesson you will:
Name your basic rights under federal safety law.
Know that you have the right to report a work injury without punishment.
Know the first steps when you get hurt at work.
Safe workplace
Your right
You take care of others all day. Your own safety matters too. OSHA says federal law gives you the right to work in a safe place. Your employer must keep the workplace free from known safety and health hazards. You can speak up about safety concerns without being punished or treated unfairly. This course covers the biggest risks for aides: lifting and moving people, blood and needles, and safety on the job.
More rights
Training and gear
OSHA lists more rights. You have the right to safety training in a language you understand. You have the right to the safety equipment your job needs, such as gloves. You have the right to be protected from toxic chemicals. You can report an injury or illness and get copies of your medical records. You can also review the records of work injuries at your workplace.
Report injuries
It's your right
An OSHA rule says your employer must tell you how to report a work injury or illness. The way to report must be reasonable. It must not scare people out of reporting. Your employer must tell you that you have the right to report. And your employer may not fire you or treat you badly for reporting a work injury. Find out how your workplace wants injuries reported, and who to call.
Show the answer
Safety training in a language you understand. OSHA lists this as a worker right.
Report early
Small pain counts
Many aide injuries start small. A sore back, a sharp pain in the shoulder, a tingling wrist. OSHA says early reporting of these injuries helps. Early care can keep an injury from getting worse. It can help treatment work, and lower the chance of lasting damage. NIOSH tells home care workers to tell the employer promptly about any injury. So report pain after a lift the same day. Don't wait to see if it goes away.
If you're hurt
Get help first
If you are hurt at work, OSHA says to call a supervisor for help. If no supervisor is there, get medical help or call 911. Then follow your workplace's steps to report what happened. Blood and needle exposures have their own urgent steps. You will learn them in a later lesson.
Speak up
Hazards too
You can report hazards, not just injuries. Examples are a broken lift, a frayed sling, or no sharps container where you need one. OSHA says to try telling your employer first if you can. They may be able to fix it fast. You can also file a confidential complaint with OSHA, at 1-800-321-6742. It is illegal for an employer to fire, demote, or punish you for complaining to OSHA. If that happens, you can file a whistleblower complaint within 30 days.
On your shift
Speak up today
Lena feels a pull in her lower back while helping a resident stand. She thinks, 'I don't want to look weak. I'll just push through.' Then she remembers. Reporting is her right, and early care helps. She tells her supervisor right away and fills out the report the way her workplace says. She also mentions that the stand-assist lift was out of reach. That helps fix the cause.
Quick review
Safe, speak, report
Let's review. You have the right to a safe workplace and to speak up without punishment. You have the right to training you understand and to the safety gear you need. Your employer must tell you how to report injuries, and may not punish you for reporting. Report pain and injuries early. If you're hurt, get help first, then report. And report hazards, too.
Your facility's policy (ask your supervisor):
Name and phone of the person to report work injuries to (24/7)
Your injury report form or system
Where the OSHA Job Safety and Health poster is posted
Lesson 2: Why Aides Get Hurt: Strains, Sprains and Back Injuries
In this lesson you will:
Know that lifting and moving people is a top cause of aide injuries.
Name the risk factors and early warning signs.
Know why equipment works better than 'lifting the right way.'
High risk job
For aides
Caring for people is physical work. OSHA says strains, sprains, and other injuries to muscles and joints are a major problem for health care workers. In 2017, nursing assistants had the second highest number of these injuries. Their rate of injuries that kept them home from work was more than five times the average for all jobs. That is why safe lifting matters so much in your work.
What they are
Muscles and joints
These injuries are called musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs. NIOSH says an MSD is an injury of the muscles, tendons, joints, nerves, or bones. It can be in your back, neck, shoulders, arms, or legs. Work like lifting, pushing, and pulling can cause it or make it worse. Signs include pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness, and tingling. Common examples are low back pain, shoulder injuries, and carpal tunnel in the wrist.
Why it happens
Force, repeat, posture
OSHA names three main risk factors. Force is how hard you have to work, like lifting a person's weight. Repetition is doing the same motion again and again. Awkward posture is a strained position, like leaning over a bed, reaching, squatting, or twisting while you lift. Moving people often has all three at once. And a person can lose balance or strength in the middle of a move.
Show the answer
Tingling and numbness in your hand after shifts. NIOSH lists numbness and tingling as MSD symptoms.
Risky tasks
Know them
OSHA lists high-risk tasks. Moving someone from the toilet to a chair, or from a chair to the bed. Moving someone from a bathtub to a chair. Turning someone side to side in bed, or lifting them up in bed. Repositioning someone in a chair. Even making a bed with a person in it. Bathing rooms are high-risk areas. The low back and shoulders get hurt most.
It adds up
Or one lift
OSHA says manual lifting can cause tiny injuries to the spine. You may not feel them at first. Over time, they can add up to a disabling injury. Other times, one heavy lift is enough to cause an injury. OSHA notes that experts recommend lifting no more than 35 pounds of a person's weight by hand. Most adults you care for weigh far more than that.
Myths
Strong isn't safe
OSHA busts some common myths. Myth: strong, healthy workers don't need to worry. Fact: they may be at higher risk, because coworkers ask them to help lift. Myth: good body mechanics and back belts prevent injuries. Fact: research shows that relying on body mechanics alone does not work. OSHA puts it plainly: there is no such thing as safe manual lifting of a patient.
What works
Equipment and help
So what does work? OSHA says lifting equipment has been shown to cut exposure to manual lifting injuries by up to 95 percent. Safe handling programs also mean fewer falls and fewer pressure sores for the people you care for. NIOSH says workers can lower their risk by following set rules, using lifting devices, and taking part in training. The next lessons show you how.
Quick review
Know the risk
Let's review. Nursing assistants have some of the highest injury rates of any job. MSDs are injuries to muscles, joints, and nerves. Signs are pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness, and tingling. Force, repetition, and awkward posture cause them. Damage can build up, or come from one lift. Body mechanics alone won't protect you. Equipment and help will. Report early signs.
Lesson 3: Lifts and Transfers: Use the Equipment and Get Help
In this lesson you will:
Follow the care plan's transfer method every time.
Use lifts and gait belts the right way, and get help instead of lifting alone.
Stop and tell your nurse when something changes.
Check the plan
Every transfer
Each person's care plan says how to move them safely. OSHA says the plan should be based on an assessment. It looks at how much help the person needs, their size and weight, whether they can understand and cooperate, and their health conditions. CMS says the assessment decides whether one or more caregivers, or a lift, is needed. So before you move anyone, check the transfer method in the care plan. Use that method, every time.
Match the method
Examples
Here are examples from OSHA. A person who can bear some weight and cooperate may use a gait belt with one caregiver, or a powered stand-assist lift. A person who cannot bear weight, or cannot cooperate, may need a full-body sling lift and two caregivers. These are only examples. Your facility or agency decides the method for each person. If the care plan says two people and a lift, use two people and a lift.
Don't lift alone
Get help
OSHA says manual lifting should be kept to a minimum and avoided when possible. Experts recommend lifting no more than 35 pounds of a person's weight by hand. So don't lift a person's full weight yourself. Get the lift. Get help. OSHA notes it is often faster to get the lift than to round up enough people to lift by hand. And mechanical lifts are safer for the person, too.
Show the answer
Use the sit-to-stand lift as the care plan says. Follow the care plan's transfer method every time.
Check the gear
Before you start
OSHA says to make sure each device is rated for the person's weight and is in good working order. CMS says staff should be trained on using lifts, including their weight limits. Check the sling size and look for tears or worn straps. Check that the battery is charged. Lock the wheels on the bed or chair. If something is broken, don't use it. Tell your nurse and report it.
Talk first
Calm and dignity
Tell the person what you are going to do before you start. OSHA says explaining the lift first and asking for the person's help adds to their safety, comfort, and dignity. CMS notes that a person who is scared in a lift may move to resist, and that can cause an accident. Speak calmly. Go step by step. Address their fears.
Gait belts
Guide, don't lift
A gait belt helps you guide and steady a person. OSHA says it should not be used to lift someone. Put it over a layer of clothing, and fasten it so the person can't easily undo it. Keep the person close to you. Move toward their stronger side. Use a rocking and pulling motion, not a lift. If the person can't stand with a little help, stop and use the lift the care plan names.
Changes
Stop and report
OSHA says a person's abilities can change in a short time, and aides are often the first to see it. If a person seems weaker, more confused, in pain, or less able to help than usual, stop. Don't make up a new way to move them. Keep them safe and tell your nurse. The plan may need to change. If someone falls, don't lift them off the floor. Stay with them and call the nurse. OSHA says to check for injury first, and to use a lift if they can't stand with a little help.
Quick review
Plan, gear, help
Let's review. Check the care plan's transfer method, and use it every time. Don't lift a person's full weight by hand. Use the lift and get help. Check that the device is rated for the person's weight and is working. Lock the wheels. Explain each step to the person. Gait belts guide; they don't lift. If anything changes, or someone falls, stop and get your nurse.
Your facility's policy (ask your supervisor):
Where the lifts, slings and gait belts are kept on each unit
How to report broken equipment
Your safe patient handling policy and who decides the transfer method
Know that turning and boosting in bed are high-risk tasks.
Set up the bed and use friction-reducing sheets and help.
Use your body well as an add-on to equipment, not instead of it.
Repositioning
High risk too
Turning someone in bed may seem like a small task. But OSHA lists it as high-risk. So are boosting someone up in bed, repositioning someone in a chair, and making a bed with a person in it. You may do these many times each shift. That adds up. This lesson shows safer ways, using the right tools and enough people.
Not one person
Plan your help
OSHA's guide says moving a person who can't help up in bed is not a one-person task. For example, it suggests a friction-reducing sheet and two or three caregivers. For a person over 200 pounds, it suggests at least three. Some people may need a full-body lift for repositioning. Your care plan says how many people and what equipment to use. Get your help lined up before you start.
Set up the bed
Right height
Set up before you move anyone. Lock the bed wheels. OSHA says to raise the bed to a height that is safe for staff, about at your elbows or waist. That cuts down on bending and reaching. Lower the side rail on the side where you are working. To boost someone up, lay the bed flat if the care plan allows. NIOSH says pulling a person up is easier with the head of the bed flat. When you're done, lower the bed again and put the call light in reach.
Show the answer
Raise the bed to a safe height, lay it flat if allowed, and use a slide sheet with a partner. OSHA suggests a safe bed height, a friction-reducing device and more than one caregiver.
Slide, don't drag
Use the sheet
Friction-reducing tools help a person slide instead of being dragged. OSHA and NIOSH name slip sheets, slide boards, rollers, and draw sheets. If you use a draw sheet, roll up the edges to get a good grip. Count down out loud, and move together with your partner on the count. Sliding also protects the person's skin. OSHA says to take care to avoid shearing for people with deep pressure sores.
Let them help
Bend knees, push
Let the person do what they can. It's safer for you, and it helps them keep their strength. OSHA says if the person can help with a boost, ask them to bend their knees and push on the count of three. Some people can use a trapeze bar over the bed to lift and shift themselves. Use cues and give them time. Follow what the care plan says about how much they can do.
Avoid these
No pulling
OSHA's guide gives clear warnings. Do not pull a person up from the head of the bed. Do not pull a person up in a chair from behind the chair. Neither is a one-person task. For a chair, lock the wheels first. Take off trays and footrests when needed. If the chair reclines, OSHA suggests reclining it and using a friction-reducing sheet with two caregivers.
Your body
Small habits
NIOSH says some effort is still needed, even with equipment. So use your body well. Walk along the side of the bed instead of reaching across it. Stand close to the person. Keep your knees bent and your feet apart. Point one foot in the direction of the move, so you don't twist. Use a gentle rocking motion. Remember, OSHA says these habits alone won't prevent injuries. They work along with equipment and help.
Quick review
Set up, slide, together
Let's review. Turning, boosting, and chair repositioning are high-risk tasks. Follow the care plan for how many people and what equipment. Lock wheels and raise the bed to a safe height. Lay it flat to boost, if the plan allows. Use a friction-reducing sheet. Count down and move together. Let the person help. Never pull from the head of the bed or from behind a chair.
Your facility's policy (ask your supervisor):
Where slide sheets and other friction-reducing devices are kept
Your policy on how many staff are needed for repositioning
Lesson 5: Bloodborne Pathogens: What They Are and How Exposure Happens
In this lesson you will:
Name the main bloodborne pathogens.
Know which body fluids to treat as infectious.
Recognize the ways and the tasks where exposure can happen.
Germs in blood
HBV, HCV, HIV
Bloodborne pathogens are germs in human blood that can cause disease. OSHA says they include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. OSHA has a rule, called the Bloodborne Pathogens standard, to protect workers who could have contact with blood at work. That includes aides. This lesson and the next three explain the main parts of that rule and what they mean for you.
Which fluids
Treat all as infectious
The rule covers blood and other potentially infectious materials. That includes any body fluid that has blood in it you can see. It also includes all body fluids when you can't tell what they are. The rule says to use universal precautions. That means you treat blood and these fluids as if they are infected. You can't tell by looking at a person. Residents and patients are included as possible sources.
How it gets in
Eyes, mouth, skin
An exposure happens when blood or these fluids reach your eyes, your mouth, or the inside of your nose. It can also happen through skin that is broken, like a cut, a rash, or chapped skin. And it can happen when your skin is pierced. The rule names needlesticks, cuts, scrapes, and human bites. Healthy, unbroken skin is a good barrier. CDC says HIV is not spread through intact skin.
Show the answer
A resident's blood splashes into your eye. Contact with the eye is one of the routes the rule names.
Aide tasks
Where risk hides
Think about your own tasks. Mouth care when gums bleed. A brief or bed pad with blood on it. A skin tear. A resident who bites or scratches when upset. Cleaning up a spill. A used needle or lancet left in bed linens, trash, or laundry. The rule even says sharps containers belong where sharps may be found, like laundries. In homes, needles and lancets may be left out.
Hepatitis B
Tiny amounts
CDC says hepatitis B is a liver disease. It spreads when blood or certain body fluids get into the body. Even tiny amounts can spread it. It does not spread by hugging, kissing, sharing forks, coughing, or sneezing. Many people with hepatitis B have no symptoms, so they don't know they have it. Long-term infection can cause liver damage, liver cancer, and death. A vaccine can prevent it.
HIV and hep C
Low but real
CDC says getting HIV at work is extremely rare. The risk from a needlestick with HIV-infected blood is less than 1 percent. The risk through the eyes, nose, or mouth is very low. Hepatitis C can also spread through blood. CDC says workers should be tested for it after a possible exposure. Low risk does not mean no risk. That is why every exposure gets reported.
Layers of protection
Controls, then PPE
The rule uses layers. First come engineering controls. These remove the hazard, like sharps containers and safer needles. OSHA calls them the main way to protect workers. Next come work practice controls. These are safer ways to do a task, like never recapping a needle. Then comes protective gear, like gloves and gowns. Your employer must give you this gear at no cost. Wash your hands after you take off gloves. The infection course shows how to use gloves and PPE.
Quick review
Treat all as infectious
Let's review. Bloodborne pathogens include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Treat blood, fluids with visible blood, and fluids you can't identify as infectious. Exposure happens through the eyes, nose, mouth, broken skin, or a stick, cut, or bite. Hepatitis B spreads in tiny amounts, and a vaccine prevents it. Protection comes in layers: controls first, then gear.
Lesson 6: Your Employer's Exposure Plan and the Hepatitis B Vaccine
In this lesson you will:
Know that your employer has a written exposure control plan you can see.
Know what your employer must give you at no cost.
Know your choices about the hepatitis B vaccine.
Written plan
Ask to see it
If your job can bring you into contact with blood, OSHA's rule says your employer must have a written exposure control plan. Its goal is to get rid of or lower your risk of exposure. It lists the jobs and tasks that can involve blood. It explains how the rules in this course are carried out where you work. Your employer must make a copy available to you. Ask your supervisor where it is kept.
Updated yearly
Your input counts
The plan must be reviewed and updated at least once a year. Each year, the employer must look at safer devices, like needles with safety features. The rule also says the employer must ask hands-on care staff for their input. That means you. You know which tasks and devices cause problems. If you have an idea for a safer way, share it.
No cost to you
Gear and care
The rule says some things must be at no cost to you. Protective gear, like gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. The employer must also clean, repair, and replace it at no cost. The hepatitis B vaccine. And medical care and follow-up after an exposure. If you are told to buy your own gloves or pay for a shot, ask your supervisor about it.
Show the answer
Within 10 working days of starting a job with exposure, after training. That is the timing in the OSHA rule.
Training
Paid and yearly
Training on bloodborne pathogens must also be free. It must happen during your work hours. You get it when you start a job with possible exposure, and again at least once a year. It must use words and a language you can understand. The rule also says you must get a chance to ask questions of the person who leads the training. So this e-course is only part of it. Your employer will add a live question time.
Hepatitis B vaccine
Offered free
Your employer must offer you the hepatitis B vaccine at no cost. It must be offered after your training, and within 10 working days of starting a job with possible exposure. It must be at a reasonable time and place. You don't have to take a blood test first to get it. It may not be offered if you already had the full series, a test shows you're immune, or you can't have it for medical reasons.
The shots
Finish the series
CDC says the hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective. It is a series of two or three shots, depending on the brand. You need all the shots to be fully protected. If you miss one, get the next one as soon as you can. The most common side effect is a sore arm. CDC also recommends that health care workers have a blood test after the series to show they are protected.
Your choice
You can change
You may decline the vaccine. If you do, the rule says you will sign a form saying you declined. If you change your mind later, while you still work in a job with exposure, your employer must give you the vaccine then. It is your choice. Make it with the facts. Ask your nurse or the person who gives the vaccine if you have questions.
Labels
Orange or red
The rule uses warning labels so you know what's inside. Labels go on containers of regulated waste, like sharps containers, and on fridges and other containers that hold blood. The labels are fluorescent orange or orange-red. Red bags or red containers can be used instead. When you see these, treat what's inside as infectious.
Quick review
Know your plan
Let's review. Your employer has a written exposure control plan, and you can see it. It is updated every year, with input from staff like you. Gear, the hepatitis B vaccine, and care after an exposure are at no cost to you. Training is free, during work hours, yearly, and includes live questions. The vaccine is offered within 10 working days. You can decline, and you can change your mind.
Your facility's policy (ask your supervisor):
Where your exposure control plan is kept and how to get a copy
How and where the hepatitis B vaccine is offered
Who leads the live bloodborne pathogens question-and-answer session
Lesson 7: Sharps Safety: Needles, Lancets and Broken Glass
In this lesson you will:
Know what counts as a sharp.
Never recap, bend or break a used needle, and use sharps containers the right way.
Handle sharps safely in facilities and in homes.
What's a sharp
Pierces skin
OSHA's rule says a contaminated sharp is any object with blood or body fluid on it that can pierce the skin. That includes needles, lancets, broken glass, and a used razor. NIOSH says contact with used sharps can expose you to germs that are a serious, even deadly, risk. Aides don't give shots. But you may find used needles and lancets, or empty a full sharps container. So you need to know these rules.
Never recap
Never bend
The rule says used needles must not be bent, recapped, or removed. Never shear or break them. Recapping is one of the riskiest things you can do with a needle. NIOSH lists it as a common cause of sticks. So never put the cap back on a used needle. Never take a needle off a pen or syringe. Put the whole thing straight into a sharps container.
Right container
Right away
Put used sharps in a sharps container right away. The rule says the container must close, resist punctures, not leak on the sides or bottom, and have a warning label. It must be close to where sharps are used or found, and stay upright. Never put sharps in the trash, in a bag, or in a pocket. And never open, empty, or reach into a sharps container.
Show the answer
Bring a sharps container to it and drop it in without recapping. Used needles go straight into a sharps container, never recapped.
Not too full
Close it first
The rule says sharps containers must be replaced often and must not be overfilled. An overfull container is a common way people get stuck. Don't push sharps down to make room. When a container looks close to full, tell your nurse or follow your facility's steps to replace it. Before a container is moved, it must be closed so nothing spills or sticks out.
Found a sharp
Slow down
Sharps turn up where you don't expect them. In bed linens, in trash, in a pocket, on the floor. NIOSH says working fast and bumping into a sharp cause many sticks. So slow down. Look before you reach. Handle linens as little as possible, and don't shake them. The rule says broken glass must not be picked up with your hands. Use a brush and dustpan, or tongs. If you find a needle, bring a sharps container to it and follow your facility's steps.
In the home
Bring a container
In a patient's home, NIOSH says to bring a labeled sharps container with you. Don't count on one being there. Plan for safe disposal before a needle is used. Keep sharps containers out of reach of children and pets. Close and secure the container when you carry it in your car, so it can't spill. Follow your agency's rules for the patient's own needles and lancets.
Safe habits
Hands off your face
The rule bans eating, drinking, smoking, putting on makeup or lip balm, and handling contact lenses where exposure is likely. Food and drinks may not be kept where blood is kept. Use safety devices your employer provides, and help pick better ones. And NIOSH says to report every needlestick or sharps injury to your employer right away. The next lesson covers what to do.
Quick review
No recap, contain it
Let's review. A sharp is anything with blood on it that can pierce skin. Never recap, bend, break, or remove a used needle. Drop sharps right away into a closed, labeled, puncture-resistant container that stays upright. Don't overfill. Never reach in. Pick up broken glass with tools, not hands. Bring a container to home visits, and report every stick right away.
Your facility's policy (ask your supervisor):
When and how sharps containers are replaced, and who to tell
Where spare sharps containers are kept (and the home visit kit)
Your policy for patients' own needles and lancets in the home
Lesson 8: After a Needlestick or Splash: What to Do Right Now
In this lesson you will:
Wash or flush the area right away.
Report the exposure right away and get medical care fast.
Know the free, confidential follow-up your employer must provide.
Act fast
Every hour counts
A needlestick, a cut from a dirty sharp, a bite, or a splash of blood in your eyes or mouth is an exposure. CDC calls it an urgent medical concern. Medicine that can prevent HIV after an exposure must start within 72 hours, and the sooner the better. CDC says every hour counts. So don't wait to finish your shift. Act now.
Wash or flush
Right away
First, clean the area. NIOSH says to wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water. Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water. Rinse your eyes with clean water, saline, or a sterile eye wash. OSHA says to flood the area with water. Know where the nearest sink and eye wash are before you need them.
Show the answer
Rinse your eye right away with clean water, saline or an eye wash. NIOSH says to irrigate the eyes right away.
Report now
Not later
Next, report it. OSHA says to report it to your employer immediately. NIOSH says to tell your supervisor. If you are in the middle of care, make the person safe and get a coworker to take over. In a home, call your agency right away. Use the number your employer gives you, any time of day or night.
Get care
Right away
Then get medical care. CDC says to see a doctor or go to the emergency room right away. The OSHA rule says that after you report, your employer must make a medical evaluation available to you right away. It must be confidential, and it must be at no cost to you. Your workplace's plan says where to go, including at night and on weekends.
The follow-up
What to expect
The rule lists what the follow-up includes. The route of exposure and how it happened are written down. The source person is identified, if possible, and their blood is tested for hepatitis B and HIV, with consent where the law requires it. Your blood is tested if you agree. You get preventive medicine if it is medically needed, counseling, and a check of any illness you report later. You are told the source person's results, and the laws on keeping them private.
Give details
Help prevent the next
When you report, give the facts. What happened, what time, and what part of your body. What fluid it was, and what device was involved, if any. Whose blood or fluid it was. And your hepatitis B vaccine status. Many employers record sharps injuries in a log that protects your privacy. It notes the device, the work area, and how it happened. That helps prevent the next one.
On your shift
Night stick
At 2 a.m., Rosa strips a bed and feels a sharp stick in her finger. A used lancet was in the sheets. She goes to the sink and washes it with soap and water. She tells her charge nurse right away, and says what happened and whose bed it was. She follows the facility's plan and goes for care that night. She doesn't wait for morning.
Quick review
Wash, report, get care
Let's review. An exposure is urgent. Every hour counts. Wash cuts and sticks with soap and water. Flush your nose, mouth, skin, or eyes with water. Report it right away. Then get medical care right away. Your employer must provide a free, confidential evaluation and follow-up. Give clear details, so the next one can be prevented.
Your facility's policy (ask your supervisor):
24/7 number to report an exposure
Where to go for post-exposure care during the day, at night and on weekends
Lesson 9: Staying Safe in the Home and on the Road
For: Home health, Hospice
In this lesson you will:
Know the common hazards of working in clients' homes.
Handle pets, unsafe conditions and driving safely.
Know when to leave and how to get help if you feel threatened.
Someone's home
Less control
When you work in a patient's home, you have little control over your work setting. OSHA says that is true for home care workers. OSHA lists hazards like blood and needles, lifting, violence, hostile animals, dirty or dangerous homes, and driving from home to home. Lifting and sharps are covered in other lessons. This lesson covers the rest.
Pets
Wait outside
Pets can threaten or bite. NIOSH says if an animal is a threat, wait outside until the pet is put away. It's OK to ask the family, kindly, to put the pet in another room for every visit. If you see fleas or other pests, talk with the patient and tell your supervisor.
Unsafe homes
Report them
Some homes are dirty, have pests, or have no safe water. NIOSH says to follow your agency's rules for reporting a home that isn't safe to work in. In a dirty home, take in only the supplies you need. Don't set your bag on carpet or soft furniture. Put a clean pad under supplies. Use non-latex gloves and hand sanitizer. If the home has no running water, use hand sanitizer.
Show the answer
Wait outside until the dog is put away. NIOSH says to wait outside until the animal is restrained.
Heat and cold
Speak up
Some homes are very hot or very cold. If it's too hot, NIOSH says to ask the patient if you may open windows or use fans. Drink plenty of water. If you think the patient is at risk from heat or cold, ask your agency to contact social services to help. Tell your supervisor about it the same day.
On the road
Buckle up
NIOSH says home care workers are at high risk of car crashes when driving from client to client. Always wear your seatbelt. Stop the car before you use your phone. Don't eat, drink, or fiddle with the radio while driving. Don't drive when you're very tired. Plan your route before you leave. Keep at least a quarter tank of gas, and carry an emergency kit.
Before you go in
Check the area
NIOSH gives steps to stay safe from violence. Let your agency know where you are and when to expect you back. Park in a well-lit spot. Lock supplies and personal items out of sight in the trunk. Look around before you get out of the car. If you feel uneasy, don't get out. If you see or hear something that threatens your safety, like shouting, fighting, or gunshots, stay in the car and call your manager.
During the visit
Stay alert
Stay alert. NIOSH says to watch for warning signs: angry words, threatening gestures, signs of drug or alcohol use, or weapons. Tell your agency if you see a weapon left out. To calm things down, stay calm and caring. Don't match threats or give orders. Name the person's feelings. Don't move fast, get too close, or talk loudly. Keep a clear path to the door.
When to leave
Trust your gut
Trust your judgment. If someone yells at you or insults you, NIOSH says to ask them to stop. If they don't stop, leave and tell your agency. If you feel threatened, leave right away. Call your agency or 911, depending on how serious it is. NIOSH says to report all violence to your employer, no matter how minor. Verbal abuse counts.
Quick review
Plan, watch, leave
Let's review. Wait outside until pets are put away. Report homes that aren't safe. Buckle up, and never use your phone while driving. Tell your agency where you are. Park in the light, and check the area before you get out. Watch for warning signs and keep an exit clear. If you feel threatened, leave and call for help. Report every incident.
Your facility's policy (ask your supervisor):
Agency check-in and check-out process and phone number
Your code word or alert process for a home visit emergency
Lesson 10: Violence and Aggression at Work: Stay Safe and Report
For: Nursing home
In this lesson you will:
Know what workplace violence is and why it happens in nursing homes.
Know your facility's plan and how to keep yourself safe.
Report every incident and get care afterward.
What it is
More than hitting
OSHA says workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, or intimidation at work. It also includes other threatening, disruptive behavior. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to hitting, kicking, and worse. It can come from residents, visitors, or coworkers. It is not 'just part of the job.'
A real risk
In nursing homes
OSHA says health care and social service workers face a high risk of violence at work. From 2011 to 2013, 70 to 74 percent of all workplace assaults happened in these settings. OSHA names long-term care for older adults as one of the highest-risk settings. In 2010, almost 1 in 5 assaults on health care workers happened in nursing and residential care. And OSHA says many incidents are never reported.
Why it happens
Look for causes
OSHA says pain, scary news, unfamiliar places, some medicines, and worsening illness can cause agitation and violence. Some risks come from the setting. Working alone. Poor lighting, or rooms where you can't see or get out easily. No way to call for help. Being short-staffed, especially at meal times and visiting hours. When a resident gets upset, think about what might be causing it. The dementia course covers calming approaches.
Show the answer
Yes. Report all threats and assaults to your supervisor. OSHA says workers should report all assaults and threats.
Know the plan
Alarms and help
OSHA says training should cover the facility's violence policy, its alarm system, and its plan for responding to a violent event. Facilities should have a way to flag residents with a history of violence, like chart notes or shift report. They should list known triggers and what helps. Learn the triggers in each resident's care plan. Know how to call for help fast. Use a buddy system when you're worried about your safety.
Stay safe
Space and exit
When someone becomes angry, your safety comes first. Tips from NIOSH fit here too. Stay calm and caring. Don't match threats or give orders. Name the person's feelings. Don't move quickly, crowd them, or talk loudly. Keep a clear path to the door. If you can't calm things down, step away to a safe place and call for help. Keep other residents safe, too.
Report it
Every time
OSHA says workers should report all assaults and threats to a supervisor. Reports help the facility find patterns and prevent the next one. OSHA says all claims should be looked into and fixed promptly. Your injury report is your right, and you can't be punished for it. If a resident is harmed, or one resident hurts another, also follow your abuse reporting rules.
After
Get care
After an incident, OSHA says the first steps are first aid and keeping others from getting hurt. Injured workers should get prompt care and a check, no matter how small the injury seems. OSHA says workers may feel fear about coming back, guilt, or worry about being blamed. You are not alone in this. Ask about counseling or your employee assistance program. Talk with your supervisor.
Quick review
Plan, protect, report
Let's review. Workplace violence includes threats, verbal abuse, and assault. It is not part of the job. Long-term care is a high-risk setting. Pain, fear, and illness can drive aggression. Know your facility's plan, alarms, and each resident's triggers. Stay calm, give space, and keep an exit clear. Report every incident, and get care afterward.
Your facility's policy (ask your supervisor):
Your workplace violence policy and alarm or emergency code
How residents with a history of violence and their triggers are flagged
Answer every question. You need 80% to pass. You can try again as many times as you like.
Your quiz covers the lessons for: Nursing home ( questions). Change your setting
Please read
This free course gives you a certificate of completion from Pact Compliance. It is not continuing education (CE) credit and is not approved by any state.
Your employer decides whether it counts toward required in-service hours. Home health and hospice aide training must be given or supervised by the agency's registered nurse.
California: it does not count toward CNA or HHA renewal hours.
Part of this topic needs a hands-on check with your supervisor; this online course does not cover that part.
Your name and quiz answers stay in your browser and are never sent to Pact.
Pact Compliance LLC, Cordova, TN
Certificate of Completion
This certifies that
completed the online in-service course
Workplace Safety: Safe Lifting, Transfers and Bloodborne Pathogens
Setting
Completed
Seat time
Quiz score
Certificate ID
This free course gives you a certificate of completion from Pact Compliance. It is not continuing education (CE) credit and is not approved by any state. Your employer decides whether it counts toward required in-service hours. Home health and hospice aide training must be given or supervised by the agency's registered nurse. California: it does not count toward CNA or HHA renewal hours.
Part of this topic needs a hands-on check with your supervisor; this online course does not cover that part.
Pact does not keep a record of this certificate. Print it or save it as a PDF and give a copy to your supervisor. pactcompliance.com/free-training/safe-lifting-bloodborne-pathogens/
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