Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-5-164 - Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis C, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Spinal Meningitis and Tuberculosis; Significant Exposure; Employee Notification; Reporting; Documentation; Forms

A. An employer subject to the Act shall notify its employees of the requirements of A.R.S. §§ 23-1043.02, 23-1043.03, and 23-1043.04 by posting the Commission notices titled "Work Exposure to Bodily Fluids" and "Work Exposure to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), Spinal Meningitis, or Tuberculosis (TB)" in a conspicuous place immediately next to the "Notice to Employees" notice required under A.R.S. § 23-906(D).

B. Properly posted "Work Exposure to Bodily Fluids" and "Work Exposure to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), Spinal Meningitis, or Tuberculosis (TB)" notices constitute sufficient notice to employees of the requirements of a prima facie case under A.R.S. §§ 1043.02(B), 23-1043.03(B), and 23-1043.04(B).

C. An employer's insurance carrier, claims processor, or workers' compensation pool shall provide the notices specified in subsection (A) to the employer. These notices are also available from the Commission upon request.

D. An employer shall make readily available to its employees the Commission form described in R20-5-106 titled "Report of Significant Work Exposure to Bodily Fluids or Other Infectious Material." An employer's insurance carrier, claims processor, or workers' compensation pool shall provide the "Report of Significant Work Exposure to Bodily Fluids or Other Infectious Material" to the employer. This form is also available from the Commission upon request.

E. If an employee sustains a significant exposure as defined in A.R.S. §§ 23-1043.02(G), 23-1043.03(G), or 23-1043.04(H)(2), the employee shall complete, date, and sign a "Report of Significant Work Exposure to Bodily Fluids or Other Infectious Material" form. The employee or employee's authorized representative shall give to the employer the completed, dated, and signed form. The employer shall return one copy of the completed form to the employee or to the employee's authorized representative. Nothing in this subsection limits the requirements to report an injury or file a claim under the Act.

F. If an employee submits a written report of a significant exposure to an employer, but does not use the Commission form titled "Report of Significant Work Exposure to Bodily Fluids or Other Infectious Material," the employer shall provide the employee the Commission form within five calendar days after receiving the employee's initial written report.

G. The date of the receipt by the employer or its authorized representative of the employee's initial report is the date used to compute the time period prescribed in A.R.S. §§ 23-1043.02(B)(2), 23-1043.03(B)(2), and 23-1043.04(B)(2) if:

1. The initial report contains the information required in the "Report of Significant Work Exposure to Bodily Fluids or Other Infectious Material" form, or

2. The employee gives to the employer the completed Commission form within 10 calendar days after the employee's receipt of the Commission form.

H. Failure or refusal by the employer to provide the Commission form to the employee shall not be a defense to a prima facie claim under A.R.S. §§ 23-1043.02(B), 23-1043.03(B), and 23-1043.04(B).

I. In investigating the circumstances and facts surrounding an employee's report to an employer of a significant exposure under A.R.S. §§ 23-1043.02(C), 23-1043.03(C), and 23-1043.04(C), the employer, or its carrier, or any employees, agents or contractors of either the employer or carrier, shall not disclose to any person, except as authorized or required by law, that the reporting employee, or any witness or alleged source of exposure, may have or did contract the human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis C, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, spinal meningitis, or tuberculosis. However, an employer, its carrier or their respective attorneys, may:

1. Direct an agent to investigate the employee's report of significant exposure, and

2. Communicate with the investigating agent about the conduct and results of the investigation.

J. As required under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Standard for Bloodborne Pathogens, 29 CFR 1910.1030, an employer shall pay for the testing required by A.R.S. § 23-1043.02.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-5-164

Adopted effective April 9, 1992 (Supp. 92-2). R20-5-163 recodified from R4-13-163 (Supp. 95-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 3966 and 7 A.A.R. 4995, effective August 17, 2001 (Supp. 01-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 991, effective June 2, 2009 (Supp. 09-2).