Protect Your Cleaning Employees From Hepatitis B

It's estimated that 80,000 people a year become infected with Hepatitis B. This is a serious disease, which in the short-term, can cause loss of appetite, tiredness, pain in muscles and joints, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pains, and jaundice. Long-term, the disease can cause liver damage, including cancer and even death. People can become infected with the disease when they come in contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person. Cleaning workers can become infected while working if a needle punctures their skin, or by coming in contact with blood or fluids from an infected person.

You can help to protect your cleaning staff by offering them the opportunity to receive a Hepatitis B vaccine. OSHA recommends that any worker who may be at risk, get the vaccine. Even if your cleaning workers are not exposed to blood or other body fluids, contaminated needles may be in the trash, which is a hazard and a risk factor in becoming infected with the disease. OSHA estimates that over 30 percent of those individuals in the United States infected with Hepatitis B have no idea how they contracted the disease.

A simple vaccine can prevent this disease. Workers receive the vaccine in a series of three shots. Adults who are at risk of exposure to Hepatitis B can receive the first shot at any time. They'll receive the second shot at least one month after the first dose and the third shot, six weeks after the first dose. The cost of the vaccine varies, usually between $75 and $200.

There is little risk of side affects from the vaccine, but some people may experience minor soreness where the shot was given, and some individuals experience a mild to moderate fever. Serious allergic reactions to the vaccine are rare. Severe reactions can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat, or dizziness. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should immediately call their doctor. Individuals who have had an allergic reaction to baker's yeast or a previous dose of Hepatitis B vaccine should consult their doctor before getting the shots.

Any employee who refuses the Hepatitis B vaccine that is offered by your cleaning company, should be required to sign a declination or refusal form.

A small investment in the Hepatitis B vaccine not only provides protection from the disease, but also peace of mind for you and your cleaning employees.

You may be interested in the following form:
Hepatitis B Declination

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