FAQs About OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

Q. Who is covered by the standard?

A. The standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) applies to all employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Occupational exposure is defined as "reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of the employee’s duties."

Q. We have employees who are designated to render first aid. Are they covered by the standard?

A. Yes. If employees are trained and designated as responsible for rendering first aid or medical assistance as part of their job duties, they are covered by the protections of the standard.

Q. Are employees such as housekeepers, maintenance workers, or janitors covered by the standard?

A. Housekeeping workers in healthcare facilities may have occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, particularly in patient care and laboratory areas where they may be required to perform tasks such as cleaning blood spills and handling regulated wastes that constitute occupational exposure. While OSHA does not generally consider maintenance personnel and janitorial staff employed in nonhealthcare facilities to have occupational exposure, it is your responsibility to determine which job classifications or specific tasks and procedures involve occupational exposure.

Q. Which employees must be trained?

A. All employees with occupational exposure must receive initial and annual  refresher training.

Q. Should part-time and temporary employees be trained?

A. Yes. Part-time and temporary employees are covered by the standard if they potentially may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and, therefore, should also to be trained during work hours.

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Q. What is an exposure control plan?

A. The exposure control plan is a written program that outlines the protective measures you will take to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials.

Q. How often must the exposure control plan be reviewed?

A. The standard requires an annual review of the exposure control plan. In addition, whenever changes in tasks, procedures, or employee positions affect or create new occupational exposure, the existing plan must be reviewed and updated accordingly.

Q. What is meant by the term "Universal Precautions"?

A. Universal Precautions is OSHA’s required method of control to protect employees from exposure to all human blood and other potentially infectious materials. The term, "Universal Precautions," refers to a concept of bloodborne disease control that requires that all human blood and certain human bodily fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other bloodborne pathogens.

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Q. What type of eye protection do employees need to wear when working with blood or other potentially infectious materials?

A. The use of eye protection would be based on the reasonable anticipation of facial exposure. Masks in combination with eye protection devices, such as glasses with solid side shields, goggles, or chin-length face shields, should be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials may be generated, and eye, nose, or mouth contamination can be reasonably anticipated.

Q. When should gloves be changed?

A. Disposable gloves shall be replaced as soon as practical after they have become contaminated or as soon as feasible if they are torn, punctured, or their ability to function as a barrier is compromised. Hands must be washed after the removal of gloves used as personal protective equipment (PPE), whether or not the gloves are visibly contaminated.

Q. Are employees allowed to take their PPE and protective clothing home to clean or launder it?

A. Employees are not permitted to take their PPE or contaminated protective clothing home to clean or launder it. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide, clean or launder, repair, replace, and dispose of PPE and protective clothing.

Q. What type of disinfectant can be used to decontaminate equipment or working surfaces that have come in contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials?

A. EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectants are appropriate. A solution of 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite (household bleach), diluted between 1:10 and 1:100 with water, is also acceptable for cleaning contaminated surfaces.

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