To whom does this standard apply?
The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to all employees who may have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Occupational exposure is defined as reasonably anticipated contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee's duties.
What are the major diseases the Bloodborne Pathogens standard is concerned with?
The three most common bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).
What is an Exposure Control Plan?
Employers who have employees with occupational exposure to BBPs are required to have a written Exposure Control Plan that is accessible to employees and is reviewed annually. The purpose of the plan is to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The plan should include, but is not limited to, an exposure determination, schedule and methods of implementation, input from employees and procedures for exposure incidents. All elements that must be included in the plan are in OSHA’s BBP standard.
What kind of Safety Devices should we choose?
Employers should evaluate and implement use of medical devices with engineered sharps injury protections (safety devices). They should use only appropriate, effective, and commercially available safety devices. Front-line employees should be involved in the evaluation and selection process and this process should be documented annually.
Who needs the hepatitis B vaccination?
The employer must offer free hepatitis B vaccinations to all employees with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
What are other ways to control BBP hazards?
BBP hazards can be controlled in many ways such as ensuring employees comply with Universal Precautions, using engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize employee exposure, providing and ensuring the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, and ensuring that contaminated sharps are disposed of in proper sharps disposal containers.
What if someone has an exposure?
The employer must have a procedure established for post-exposure evaluation and follow-up. The procedure should include, but not be limited to, documentation of the route of exposure and other circumstances, identification of the source individual where feasible and testing of that individual’s blood for BBPs where possible, and an offer of post-exposure medical evaluations at no cost to the employee.
What should employee training contain?
Employees who have occupational exposure to BBPs must be trained at initial assignment and at least annually by a knowledgeable person. Training must include a number of elements, such as:
• An accessible copy of the BBP standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
• Information on the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases
• Information on modes of transmission of BBPs
• Description of employer’s Exposure Control Plan and how to get a copy
• How to recognize tasks that may involve exposure to blood or OPIM
• Use and limitations of methods to reduce exposure, including engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment
• Information on the hepatitis B vaccine
• What to do and whom to contact after an exposure
• Information on post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
• An opportunity for interactive questions and answers
More Information
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
Do I need to file Tier II's before March 1st?
If you can answer “No” to any of the following questions then you may be in the clear:
Question #1: Do you do any one of the following; manufacture, use, store or process chemicals? (The simplified definition for “chemical”, pertaining to these regulations, is a product that you are required to maintain a MSDS. They include solids, liquids and gases.)
Question #2: Do you have chemicals contained within these products that contain any of the extremely hazardous chemical (EHS) list?
Question #3: Do any of these “Chemicals”, either by themselves or aggregated (based on your maximum amounts on any given day), meet or exceed the EHS Threshold Planning Quantities (TPQ) or 500 lbs.? (The only way that we can help you with this one is to screen for them.)
Note: Even if you answered “No” to either question 2 or 3 you still may have a requirement if you have any chemical that exceeds 10,000 lbs on hand any given day at you facility.
What are my state Tier II reporting requirements?
Every state has different reporting requirements. For a complete list of instructions for what your state requires go here.