Hepatitis and bottle returns

[Sylvanz]

I checked the reference pages for this and didn't find it so some background. In the convenience store I work in there is a little power struggle and controversy going on. The quite intelligent guy I work with insists that we cannot have any plastic grocery bags that contained used bottles being returned for refund in the store because they spread Hepatitis. I think he means B but I'm not really sure. Meanwhile our manager has decided that the little bottle return cart we use must now contain a plastic garbage bag liner so as to be more sanitary. This tics off my over-night co-worker who insists that the liquid from the returns being in contact with the plastic is what creates the perfect environment for the spread of disease, and in this case specifically Hepatitis. Now this seems a bit counter intuitive to me because as far as I can find out health code doesn't deal with it and guess what we sort our returns into...yes you are correct...plastic lined cardboard return boxes. In addition, I've researched all the forms of Hepatitis and none seem to be spread in this fashion as far as I can tell.

He is quite furious about the whole thing. I get along great with this guy but he is very socially ummm inept. He knows no diplomacy or grace and has been working at this job for waaaayyy too long. I won't argue the point with him, but will continue to do as my manager expects. Frankly I humor him because I work with him a lot and I'd really rather get along with him then not. As I tell him, "I do it your way when you're here and my way when you're not."

So, does anyone know for sure if Hepatitis is spread this way? I'm pretty sure he's wrong on this one, but I would like someone a little more science-foo than I have to give me some input.

P&LL, Syl