What Do You Have to Do to Protect Workers Against BBPs?

If you have employees covered by OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard (see yesterday’s Advisor), OSHA says that you must have a written exposure control plan that includes a list of employees who may potentially be exposed, a list of work tasks that present the potential for exposure, and a procedure for evaluating the potential for exposure.

You also must:

• Review and update your plan annually to reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce exposures.
• Solicit and document input from employees regarding the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering controls to prevent exposures.
• Use work practices and engineering controls designed to eliminate or reduce exposures.
• Train employees concerning BBP exposure risks and precautions.
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) that will help protect workers from exposures, including (depending on circumstances) gloves, eye protection, face shields, masks, protective clothing, and pocket masks.
• Develop a written cleaning and decontamination schedule that reduces the opportunity for accidental exposures.
• Provide free hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccinations to all employees who could potentially be exposed to HBV.
• Keep medical and training records on all employees at risk of BBP exposure.

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Training Requirements

In addition to providing employees at risk with a copy and explanation of the bloodborne pathogens standard, OSHA requires employee training to include an explanation of:

• The epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases
• The ways in which BBPs may be transmitted
• Your exposure control plan
• Methods for identifying tasks with potential for exposure
• Uses and limitations of methods to reduce the risk of exposures
• Required PPE and protective clothing
• HBV vaccinations
• What to do in the event of an exposure
• Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
• Signs and warning labels

OSHA also requires your trainers to allow time for interactive questions and answers during training sessions, which must be held during working hours.

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Ready-Made Checklists

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