- Safety and Health Topics
- Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
Standards
What is the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) as amended pursuant to the 2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, is a regulation that prescribes safeguards to protect workers against health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens. It has provisions for exposure control plans, engineering and work practice controls, hepatitis B vaccinations, hazard communication and training, and recordkeeping. The standard imposes requirements on employers of workers who may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials such as certain tissues and body fluids.
Bloodborne pathogens and needlesticks are addressed in specific OSHA standards for general industry. This section highlights OSHA standards and documents related to bloodborne pathogens and needlestick prevention.
OSHA Standards
General Industry (29 CFR 1910) | Related Information | |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances | 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens. Revisions to 1910.1030 as a result of theNeedlestick Safety and Prevention Act:Paragraph 1910.1030(d)(2)(i)requires the use of engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens.Employers must keep a Sharps Injury Log for the recording of percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps [1910.1030(h)(5)(i)].The Exposure Control Plan (1910.1030(c)(1)(i)) shall:Reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens [1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(A)].Document annually consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure [1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(B)].Solicit input from non-managerial employees responsible for direct patient care, who are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps, in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls and shall document the solicitation in the Exposure Control Plan [1910.1030(c)(1)(v)]. | Related Information |
State Plan Standards
There are 29OSHA-approved State Plans operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements.
Needlestick Legislation
- Overview of State Needle Safety Legislation. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). As of June 2002, twenty-two states have enacted legislation related to needle safety.
- Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. 106th Congress - Public Law 106-430, (2000). The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act became Public Law 106-430 on November 6, 2000.
- In 2001, in response to theNeedlestick Safety and Prevention Act, OSHA revised the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030).
FAQs
Bloodborne Pathogens - Standards | Occupational Safety and Health Administration? ›
What is the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard? OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) as amended pursuant to the 2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, is a regulation that prescribes safeguards to protect workers against health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens.
What are the 4 basic requirements of OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard? ›- Implementing a formal exposure control plan (ECP)
- Conducting annual employee training.
- Using standard precautions (SP) during patient care.
- Using personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Washing hands after patient care, removing PPE, or contacting OPIMs.
- Write an exposure control plan to determine how exposure to body fluids will be handled. ...
- Implement the use of universal precautions (e.g., hand washing and use of gloves).
- Identify and use engineering controls (e.g., self-sheathing needles).
Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard emphasizes personal protective equipment or PPE. PPE includes gowns, gloves, eye protection, and masks. As the employer, you are responsible for cleaning, repairing, and replacing PPE as needed.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration published the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens standard in 1991 because of a significant health risk associated with exposure to viruses and other microorganisms that cause bloodborne diseases.
What are 5 standard precautions used to prevent bloodborne pathogens? ›These precautions require that all blood and other body fluids be treated as if they are infectious. Standard precautions include maintaining personal hygiene and using personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls, work practice controls, and proper equipment cleaning and spill cleanup procedures.
What is the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard summary? ›OSHA'S bloodborne pathogens standard protects employees who work in occupations where they are at risk of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. OSHA's hazard com- munication standard protects employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals.
What is OSHA approved bloodborne pathogens course? ›The course teaches staff how bloodborne pathogens are spread, how to avoid exposure and what to do if exposed to infectious material. This course is one of the requirements of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
What does OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard address? ›What is OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard? OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard 29 CFR Part 1910.1030, addresses the blood hazards in the workplace. This standard covers all employees who it can "reasonably be anticipated" to have contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials.
What is the name of the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard plan? ›In pursuit of this endeavor, the following exposure control plan (ECP) is provided to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in accordance with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1030, "Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens."
How often do you have to take the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard? ›
Under OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard, employers having employees with exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) must train employees annually regardless of the employees' prior training or education.
Who does the OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard cover? ›The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to employees who have occupational exposure (reasonably anticipated job-related contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials).
What obligations does an employer have to keep employees safe from bloodborne pathogens? ›In the context of OSHA's standard on Bloodborne Pathogens, 29 CFR 1910.1030, your company would be required, for example, to provide the general training outlined in the standard; ensure that employees are provided with the required vaccinations; and provide proper follow-up evaluations following an exposure incident.
What two records must be maintained under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard? ›OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires employers to keep and maintain medical, training, and exposure records for employees who have been exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
How long do employers need to keep the records for OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard training? ›The bloodborne pathogens standard states that training records must include the dates of training, the content of the training sessions, the names and qualifications of trainers, and the names and job titles of those who received training. You have to keep these records for at least three years.
What is the employer's responsibility according to OSHA guidelines? ›Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace that is free from serious recognized hazards. This is commonly known as the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act. OSHA standards are rules that describe the methods that employers must use to protect their employees from hazards.
What four conditions must be present in order for a bloodborne pathogen to spread? ›There needs to be a reservoir or source that allows the pathogen to survive and even multiply, such as blood. There must be a mode of transmission from source to host. There must be an entrance through which the pathogen enters the host. The host must be susceptible to that pathogen, as opposed to being immune to it.
What two records must be maintained under the OSHA Bloodborne pathogens Standard? ›OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires employers to keep and maintain medical, training, and exposure records for employees who have been exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
What is required by the OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard with regard to performing phlebotomy? ›Personal Protective Equipment
This includes latex gloves, goggles, gowns and face masks. Phlebotomists must use this equipment when blood exposure is possible. They must keep their personal equipment clean and replace equipment if it has damage that would make it ineffective.