Injuries, First Aid, and Standard Precautions Procedure - 63.10.10
College Policy Number/Title:
Injuries
Any injury on Howard Community College (HCC) property or at college-sponsored activities must be reported to the office of public safety as soon as possible for the completion of an incident report. In the case of a serious illness or accident on campus, employees should make a direct call to the county emergency service at 911 immediately and then notify public safety.
Employee injuries must also be reported to human resources. All work-related injuries/illnesses requiring first aid should be recorded on a Howard County Employee Incident/Injury Report form, which is available in the office of human resources or on the HCC portal. The employee or supervisor will coordinate with the office of human resources to complete this form as soon as possible after the time of the incident, but within one business day. For more information on workers compensation, see procedure 63.07.24, Workers Compensation.
First Aid
If an employee at HCC incurs a minor injury, first aid kits are available for self-treatment in various locations throughout the campus including higher risk areas such as the science technology labs, public safety office, theatre, facilities department, and athletic and fitness center. Individual areas are responsible for keeping first aid kits stocked with supplies for typical injuries in that area. Individual areas must ensure all supplies are kept up-to-date. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs), “Stop the Bleed” kits and Narcan inhalers are also available throughout the campus in marked wall cabinets.
The public safety office and vehicles have first aid kits and officers are trained to provide routine first aid for minor injuries. Online and in person first aid training is available for professional development credit.
Standard Precautions
Standard precautions to be taken by employees are intended to prevent exposure to human blood or other bodily fluids (refer to the HCC Exposure Control Plan for Blood-Borne Pathogens, located on the college website). Examples of standard precautions include the following practices:
- washing hands and other skin surfaces;
- wearing gloves, masks, and protective eyewear;
- wearing protective suits, gowns or aprons;
- using care with sharp objects;
- disinfecting all contaminated surfaces;
- using designated disposal containers;
- using protective resuscitation masks for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
- not eating, drinking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, smoking, or handling contact lenses where exposure may occur; and
- contacting the environmental services staff who is trained to clean spills of bodily fluids.
Effective Date: 06/04/21
President's Office Use: VPAF