Requirements of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

In general, OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires employers to perform the following tasks:

• Establish an exposure control plan (ECP) to eliminate or minimize occupational exposures. The plan must be updated annually.
• Implement the use of universal precautions.
• Identify and use engineering and work practice controls as the primary means of eliminating or minimizing employee exposure. Engineering controls reduce employee exposure in the workplace by either removing or isolating the hazard, or isolating the worker from exposure. Work practice controls alter the manner in which a task is performed to make the task safer.
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns, eye protection, and masks. Employers must clean, repair, and replace this equipment as needed. They must also ensure that provision, maintenance, repair, and replacement of this equipment is at no cost to the employee.
• Provide information and training to workers, including methods used to control occupational exposure.
• Make HBV vaccinations available to all workers with occupational exposure. The vaccination must occur after the worker has received the required bloodborne pathogens training and within 10 days of initial assignment to a job with occupational exposure.
• Make a post-exposure evaluation and follow-up available to any worker who experiences an exposure incident.
• Maintain worker medical and training records.
• Maintain a sharps injury log. "Sharps" refers to needles and other sharp objects in general.
• Use labels and signs to communicate hazards to employees.

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