School-Based Youth Services Program:  Some School-Based Youth Services Programs and other school-linked services supported by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families provide testing for common sexually transmitted infections and intensive services to prevent teen pregnancy. Learn more at http://www.state.nj.us/dcf/families/school/.

Vaccine for Strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV): New Jersey school districts are required under N.J.S.A. 18A:40-42 to annually distribute information about HPV to the parents or guardians of students in the seventh grade.  Find HPV Vaccine: Questions and Answers for Parents at https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/hpv/hpv_brochure.pdf

N.J.A.C. 6A:16-1.4(b) and 2.1(a)7 require school districts to adopt policy and procedures for universal precautions to protect all persons including students in school settings. Instruction of students in universal precautions and first aid procedures assists school staff in implementing this policy.

Definition: “Universal precautions" means a set of procedures designed to prevent transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, and other bloodborne pathogens. Universal precautions involve the use of protective barriers such as gloves, masks or eyewear and procedures for use of sharps and needles to prevent exposure to human blood, other body fluids containing visible blood, semen, vaginal secretions, tissue and cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, peritoneal, pericardial and amniotic fluids. Universal precautions do not apply to feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine and vomitus unless they contain visible blood. Universal precautions do not apply to saliva except in the dental setting where blood contamination of saliva is predictable.

The requirement for use of universal precautions in all school settings is not intended to displace use of more stingent precautions in healthcare settings.  These more stringent standards are sometimes called “standard precautions for healthcare settings”.  Clarification and guidance is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/universal.html.

State regulations governing schools also require exclusion of any person from the school setting if the person has uncovered weeping skin lesions, per N.J.A.C. 6A:16-1.4(b) and N.J.A.C. 8:61-2.1(d).

As  public employers, New Jersey public schools must comply with the Public Employees Occupational  Safety and Health (PEOSH) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard of federal OSHA regulations at 29 CFR 1910.1030 and incorporated by reference in New Jersey regulations at N.J.A.C. 12:100. These same protections are extended to students in public school vocational or technical programs at N.J.A.C. 6A:19-6.3. The school district must provide hepatitis B vaccination, annual training, engineering controls including ready access to protective equipment and post-exposure evaluation and treatment to those who have been identified as at-risk of exposure to blood or  potentially  infectious  material  under the school district’s Exposure Control  Plan.

A summary of changes made in 2002 and Model Exposure Control Plan and Employer Guide is available for download from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational Health Services.

For further information about the PEOSH Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, contact the PEOSH Program at 609.984.1863.

Program safety guidelines for vocational and technical programs that include protections from bloodborne pathogens are detailed in the Safe Schools Manual.

HIV Post-Exposure Follow-up:  N.J.A.C. 8:61-requires public and non-public schools and day care facilities to adopt written policies and procedures for post-exposure management, as required by OSHA and PEOSH. Technical support for clinicians on post-exposure management is available through the National HIV/AIDS Clinicians Consultation Center.