Protecting employees and patrons from blood borne pathogens as well as other transmittable viruses and bacteria often falls directly to the housekeeping staff. Don Rankin and Fernando Gambirazio of Pritchard Sports and Entertainment Group, shared best practices on safety and recycling with attendees at the first Venue Operations Summit.
The three most common blood borne pathogens identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The most deadly is Ebola.
"There are a variety of ways potential blood borne pathogens can be transmitted," Gambirazio said. "There are needle sticks from trash can waste, administering first aid to fans, cleaning the restrooms."
Mucous can contain blood, so even a sneeze can be potentially hazardous.
"I tell my guys not to get involved in administering first aid unless they absolutely have to," Gambirazio said. "I tell them to send the patron to the first aid station."
The same goes for any kind of injury during a changeover or an on-stage artist injury.
Each shift at a building should have at least one employee trained in safe practices. Each building should have Spill Kits with latex gloves, protective clothing, eye/face protection, goggles, super absorbent solidifiers, and a disinfectant for harmful viruses and bacteria.
"You should have an Exposure Control Plan, which should include how to decontaminate and dispose of the biowaste," he said. "There should be appropriate labels and signage."
He also advised using third party vendors to educate the housekeeping staff.
There have to be separate waste receptacles. But, he added, this is a great sponsorship opportunity. "Almost every piece of equipment at the Marlins stadium was paid for through sponsorships," Rankin said.