Online bloodborne pathogens training coming soon
Districts participating in the 2011-2012 Heath/Safety/Risk Management Program will soon have one more online training option for employees, thanks to a BOCES Mini Grant.
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REMINDER: Do you have an idea for a project like Jennifer and Cynthia's? The Mini Grant Program provides varying monetary awards of up to $1,000 to cover the costs of projects and initiatives that are suited to employees' unique professional talents and the needs of BOCES. The grants are awarded for both instructional and non-instructional projects. A reminder that BOCES mini grant applications are due Monday, April 25. Details |
Bloodborne pathogens training will soon join the ranks of other online training opportunities, such as HazCom, thanks to a BOCES mini grant awarded to Safety Specialist Jennifer Bennett and Safety Coordinator Cynthia Holmes in July 2010.
Bennett and Holmes received training through NERIC in the use of software (Breeze/Connect) that allows their PowerPoint presentations to be accessed through the BOCES website for the bloodborne pathogens training. This training is geared toward school nurses, custodians and other employees who have to provide first aid and/or handle or clean up blood or other potentially infectious bodily fluids while on the job.
Bennett and Holmes created the training slides and piloted the online program with school nurses during the winter. It was so successful that Bennett and Holmes are now planning a full rollout of the training to additional districts. Next, the rest of the health, safety and risk staff will be trained how to use the software in May, so that they can begin to work with their districts and add district-specific details to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
In the near future, more online courses will be provided on additional course topics, such as a new and improved online HazCom/Right-to-Know course.
"Previously it was frustrating to be limited in what we offered online," said Holmes. "As Jennifer and I shared our mutual frustration, which included limited funding to start new training, we had a light bulb moment: could the BOCES Mini Grant give us the funds to broaden our online training? Yes. Yes it did!"
"This mini grant benefitted not only Jennifer and Cynthia, but our entire risk staff — and ultimately all our districts," said Risk Manager Kristin Bucciferro. "Thank you to Jennifer and Cynthia for leading this project, and to BOCES for the mini grant!"
