BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN

FORWARD

In accordance with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030 the Exposure Control Plan is being presented for Cheyenne Drilling, LP. The Exposure Control Plan will be reviewed at least on an annual basis and updated as necessary.

We are proud to present the plan, which once again reiterates Cheyenne Drilling’s commitment to the safety and well being of its employees and for compliance with governmental regulations.

BLOODBORNE PATHOGEN EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN

1. PURPOSE:

The purpose of this plan is to minimize or eliminate employee occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials as detailed in the Bloodborne Pathogens standard.

2. EXPOSURE DETERMINATION:

As per the standard, Cheyenne Drilling is required to perform the ‘Exposure Determination’ concerning employees that may incur occupational exposure to the blood or other infectious materials. The exposure determination is made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment (i.e. employees are considered to be exposed even if they wear personal protective equipment.). The exposure determination is required to list all job classifications in which employees may be expected to incur such occupational exposure, regardless of the frequency. Within the scope of work of Cheyenne Drilling employees, there is minimal possibility of employees to get exposed to the Bloodborne pathogens or other infectious materials. However, there is some possibility of exposure to supervisors or first aid providers. This may occur when employees act as first responders and trained first aid providers in assisting employees who have suffered an injury or illness which involves bleeding or exposure to body fluids.

3. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE AND METHODOLOGY

OSHA also requires that this plan to include a schedule and method of implementation for the various requirements of the standards. The following complies with these requirements:

COMPLIANCE METHODS:

Cheyenne Drilling requires that Universal Precautions be observed in order to prevent contact with the blood or other potentially infectious fluids. To be safe, all blood or other potentially infectious materials will be considered infectious regardless of the perceived status of the source individual.

As required by the OSHA standard, hand washing facilities are available to employees who incur exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Hand washing facilities are available at all office and shop facilities, and at rig locations. After removal of personal protective gloves, employees shall wash hands or other affected parts of the body immediately with soap and water, or an equivalent cleaning solution. If employees incur exposure to their skin or the mucous membranes, then those areas shall be washed or flushed with water as soon as feasible following the contact.

WORK PRACTICES:

All procedures will be conducted in a manner which will minimize splashing, spraying, splattering and generation of droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials. The following explains some of the procedures which will be followed at the facility:

Only trained and certified employees, supervisors and managers will be authorized to provide first aid. These employees are trained and will use proper precautions and measures to protect themselves and follow ‘Universal Precautions’.

All the waste materials contaminated with the blood and body fluids will be collected in a clearly marked container and sent for disposal at a special facility for handling this type of waste, such as a local hospital or medical clinic.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Personal Protective Equipment will be at no cost to the employee. Personal protective equipment has been chosen based on anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. The protective equipment will be considered appropriate only if it does not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through or to reach the employees clothing, skin, eyes, mouth or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for duration of time, which the protective equipment will be used.

*There is a Bloodborne Pathogen Kit located in office and/or shop areas, and in a designated area such as the "doghouse" or Toolpusher trailer on rig locations.

All garments which are penetrated by blood shall be removed immediately or as soon as feasible. All personal protective equipment will be removed prior to leaving the work area. The following is the protocol for leaving the work area:

Remove the contaminated clothing and personal protective equipment in the work area and dispose it in the special waste container marked as a ‘BIOHAZARD’.

Gloves will be worn where it is reasonably anticipated that employees will have contact with the blood or other potentially infectious materials, non- intact skin and mucous membrane. Gloves may be obtained from a supervisor. Gloves will be used to assist and provide first aid to an injured or an ill employee.

Disposable latex gloves used are not washed or decontaminated for reuse and are replaced frequently, when they become contaminated, if they are torn, punctured, or if their ability to function as a barrier is compromised. Utility gloves are not used for protection against the Bloodborne Pathogens.

HOUSEKEEPING

The decontamination of the areas which have been contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials will be cleaned by fresh bleach & water combination solutions, blood will be cleaned promptly with 10% bleach-to-water solution or EPA approved registered germicide solution. All contaminated work surfaces will be decontaminated as soon as feasible.

HEPATITIS ‘B’ VACCINE:

By OSHA definition and requirements, employees who are REQUIRED to administer medical first aid care shall be offered the Hepatitis ‘B’ vaccine, at no cost to them. Although Cheyenne Drilling does provide first aid and CPR training for employees, providing first aid and CPR is not a job requirement, therefore, the HBV vaccination is not offered by the company, although employees are strongly encouraged to have the vaccination administered.

If an occupational exposure occurs related to Cheyenne activities, employees who decline the Hepatitis ‘B’ vaccine will sign a waiver as shown in Appendix ‘A’. Employees who initially decline but who later wish to have it may have it at no cost to them.

The HSE Manager has the responsibility to offer the vaccination, have the employees sign the ‘Declination Form’, and if the employee agrees to take the vaccination, make arrangements with an authorized health care agency. The vaccination will be administered by a licensed health care professional.

POST EVALUATION SURROUNDING EXPOSURE INCIDENTS:

When an employee incurs an exposure incident, it should be reported to his / her supervisor and the HSE Manager immediately. All employees who incur an exposure incident will be offered post exposure evaluation and follow up in accordance with the OSHA standard. The follow up will include the following:

The documentation of the route of exposure and the circumstances related to the incident.

If at all possible, the identification of the source individual and if possible, the status of the source individual. The blood of the source individual will be tested (after the consent is obtained) for HIV/ HBV infectivity.

The results of the source individual will be made to the exposed employee, informed of the applicable laws and regulations concerning the disclosure of the identity and the infectivity of the individual.

The employee will be offered the option of having his/ her blood collected for testing of the employee’s HIV/ HBV serological status. This sample will be preserved for 90 days to enable the employee to decide if the sample should be subjected to the HIV serological status. However, prior to that if the employee decides to have the testing done then appropriate action will be taken and the blood sample discarded.

The employee will be offered post exposure prophylaxis in accordance with the current recommendations of the US Public Health Services.

Following an occupational exposure, the employee will be given appropriate counseling concerning the precautions to be taken during certain period after exposure. This medical counseling will be provided by a licensed health care provider at the company’s discretion. The employee will also be given information on what potential illnesses to be aware of and to report related symptoms to the HSE Manager.

INTERACTION WITH THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS:

Certain information is required to be provided to the health care professionals responsible for providing the employee with the Hepatitis ‘B’ vaccination and also to the professionals who conduct an evaluation of the employee after the exposure. This information will be provided by the HSE Manager.

A written opinion shall be obtained from the health care professional who evaluates the employee after the following instances:

When an employee is sent to get the Hepatitis ‘B’ Vaccination.

When an employee is sent to the professional after the exposure.

The health care professional shall be instructed to limit their opinions to:

If a Hepatitis ‘B’ vaccination has been indicated and if the employee has received the vaccination, or for evaluation after the incident.

That the employee has been informed of the results of the evaluation

The employee had been told about any medical conditions resulting from the exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.

TRAINING:

Training for all the employees who have possibility of exposure will be conducted prior to their assignment where occupational exposure may occur. Training will be conducted in classroom by the HSE Manager, High Plains Technology Center, or an authorized and certified outside agency. A test will be given at the conclusion of the class to determine if participants have understood the materials presented in the class.

The training will include at the least the following materials:

OSHA standard for the Bloodborne Pathogens

Epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases.

Modes of transmission of Bloodborne Pathogens

This ‘Exposure Control Plan’, that is points of the plan, lines of responsibility and how the plan will be implemented etc.

Procedure which may cause exposure to the blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Control methods which will be used by Cheyenne Drilling to control exposure to blood or other infectious materials.

Personal protective equipment provided by Cheyenne Drilling and the person who should be contacted for the issuance of the same.

Post exposure evaluation and follow up.

Signs and labels used throughout Cheyenne Drilling operations and locations. Generally these can be found in the first-aid kits or Bloodborne pathogens spill kits.

Review of the Hepatitis ‘B’ vaccination program.

The training will be conducted by a qualified and trained individual. The employees who have received initial training will receive refresher training within a one-year period.

RECORDKEEPING

Training records shall be maintained by the HSE Manager. Medical records will be maintained as "confidential", to protect the rights of the individual employee.