If you are exposed to a patients blood, it is important to follow the acronym:

Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease and are present in human blood. They include but are not limited to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

OSHA issued the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard 29 CFR Part 1910.1030to protect health care workers and others who come in contact with blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM) during their occupational duties. The purpose of the standard is to prevent occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and to reduce the chances of infection when exposure does occur.

This standard requires employers to write and implement an exposure control plan for employees with occupational exposure to blood and OPIM, using administrative, engineering, and work practice controls to prevent or minimize employee exposure.

The exposure control plan must contain at least the following elements:

• Cleaning/disinfection of contaminated equipment and surfaces
• Exposure determination - a list of all job classifications in which all employees in those classifications have occupational exposure (example: all employees classified as phlebotomists), or a list of job classifications in which some employees have occupational exposure, or a list of all tasks and procedures in which occupational exposure occurs (example: administering immunizations, doing finger sticks). Most local public health agencies will probably not have entire job classifications in which all persons have occupational exposure, but may have certain personnel with assigned duties that involve occupational exposure.
• Handling laundry
• Hazard communication
• Hepatitis B vaccination
• Maintenance of sharps injury log
• Post-exposure follow-up
• Provision for hand hygiene practices
• Safe management and disposal of sharps
• Standard precautions - set of practices used with ALL clients to prevent contact with blood and OPIM
• Use of personal protective equipment;
• Use of sharps with safety devices Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act
  Waste management
• Work practices that reduce or eliminate exposure to blood and OPIM
  (example: no eating, drinking in potentially contaminated areas, using leak-proof containers for specimen storage)

Frequently Asked Questions

• If it is reasonable to anticipate skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials during job duties and tasks, the staff member must be included in an exposure control plan. For example, a public health nurse assigned to administer immunizations may have contact with blood or body fluids.
• Persons who give first aid as a “good Samaritan” act are not covered under the BBP exposure control plan unless they perform these duties as a part of their jobs. However, it is recommended that employers provide the hepatitis B vaccine if needed and other post-exposure follow-up due to liability issues, and to help prevent disease transmission among staff even in non-occupational exposures. 

All staff need to have training at the time they are initially assigned duties with occupational exposure, and annually thereafter. Training must be at the educational level and in the language of the employee.

Training records, which are kept for three years from the date on which the training occurred, and medical records (e.g. hepatitis B vaccination status, exposure incidents and follow-up) which are kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years [29 CFR Part 1910.1030 (h)].

The plan must be reviewed annually and whenever new or modified tasks or procedures affect occupational exposure or there are new employee positions with occupational exposure.

There are no official requirements for persons doing training for BBP exposure control programs, but it is in the best interest of the employer to choose persons with knowledge in the subject matter that is required in the training. Examples of knowledgeable staff include nurses, nurse practitioners, infection control professionals, physician assistants, occupational health professionals, and emergency medical technicians.

• A puncture of the skin with a used needle, lancet, or other sharp item, whether or not there is visible blood or OPIM present.
• Splashes or sprays of blood or OPIM into the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Contact with blood or OPIM onto an open wound, an oozing lesion, or other area where there is significant skin breakdown.

• Get input from employees with occupational exposure on developing effective engineering and work practice controls.
• Determine job classifications and job tasks that have occupational exposure.
• Write and implement a written exposure control plan that includes engineering and work.
• Practice controls and use of PPE to minimize occupational exposure.
• Provide hand washing facilities readily available to employees ensure that employees wash hands immediately or as soon as feasible after removing gloves and after contact with blood and OPIM.
• Provide appropriate PPE, store in available locations, and maintain PPE in good repair.
• Ensure that employees use PPE appropriately.
• Ensure that the worksite is clean and in sanitary condition.
• Provide for appropriate management of infectious waste.
• Use labels and signs to communicate hazards to employees.
• Make available hepatitis B vaccine and post-vaccination antibody testing.
• Provide post-exposure medical evaluation and follow-up .
• Provide training.
• Keep medical and training records.

• Wear appropriate PPE for tasks and procedures in which occupational exposure may occur.
• Use and activate safety devices when handling needles and lancets.
• Dispose of infectious waste properly.
• Notify their supervisors immediately after they experience an exposure.
• Complete the required initial and annual training.
• Comply with all other aspects of the BBP exposure control plan.

• The decision to wear PPE is based on the worker’s assessment of whether there is “reasonable anticipation” of an exposure to blood or OPIM. If exposure does not usually occur when giving immunizations, gloves are not necessary but workers may choose to wear gloves if they wish. 
• Gloves should always be available in case of emergency situations that result in contact with blood or OPIM. 
• The General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization. 2017 (PDF) recommend washing hands with soap and water or waterless alcohol gel between each client in the immunization setting. 
• If gloves are worn, they should be removed after each client, and hand hygiene should be performed. 

• Gloves and other PPE may be placed in regular plastic bags for disposal. If they are saturated or dripping with blood or OPIM, they should be placed in a red biohazard bag.

• Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Post-exposure Prophylaxis
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Guidelines 2001
• Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Post-exposure Prophylaxis
  CDC Updated Guidelines 2005
• Occupational Exposures to HIV and Recommendations for Post-exposure Prophylaxis
  CDC Updated Guidelines Guidelines 2013
• Model Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
  Part 1 of document. (Fill in the blanks to create your own plan)

Contact

Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) Prevention Program
Division of Public Health
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
Phone 608-267-7711
Fax 608-261-4976

Last Revised: December 28, 2021