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Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention |
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OSHA Standards |
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Needlestick injuries and other sharps-related
injuries which expose workers to bloodborne pathogens continues to
be an important public health concern. In 1991, OSHA issued the
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) to protect workers from this risk.
In 2001, in response to the
Needlestick
Safety and Prevention Act, OSHA revised the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. This page highlights OSHA standards, preambles to final rules (background to
final rules), directives (instructions for compliance officers), and standard
interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related
to bloodborne pathogens and needlestick prevention.
Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty
Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a
place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or
are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section
5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health
standards promulgated under this Act".
Note:
Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have
OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and
enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that
are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different
standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement
policies. |
Highlighted Standards
The following standard applies to bloodborne pathogens hazards in the workplace.
- 1910.1030, Bloodborne
pathogens. Refer to for complete standard requirements.
- Revisions to 1910.1030 as a result of the
Needlestick 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)].
- Appendix A, Hepatitis B vaccine declination (Mandatory)
The following information provides discussion on the revised standard.
- Revision to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard - Technical Background
and Summary. OSHA, (2001, April). Includes
revised information regarding the identification, evaluation, and
selection of effective engineering controls, including safer medical
devices.
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Most frequently asked questions concerning the bloodborne pathogens standard.
OSHA Standard Interpretation, (1993, February 1; corrected 2003, August 13). Responses to common questions
about the bloodborne pathogens standard.
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Frequently Asked Questions. OSHA. Provides questions and answers to some commonly asked
questions regarding needlestick hazards and prevention.
- Frequently
Asked Questions: Bloodborne Pathogens. OSHA. Provides answers and additional
information to frequently asked questions regarding bloodborne pathogen hazards.
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Frequently Asked Questions: OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and Smallpox
Vaccination Programs. OSHA. Provides answers to questions concerning the safe administration of vaccines.
- Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens; Needlestick and Other Sharps Injuries; Final Rule.
OSHA Federal Register Final Rules 66:5317-5325, (2001, January 18). Also
available as a 450 KB
PDF,
9 pages. OSHA revised the Bloodborne Pathogens standard in
conformance with the requirements of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention
Act.
- Bloodborne Pathogens. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2002), 63 KB
PDF*, 2 pages.
Needlestick Legislation
Preambles to Final Rules
Directives
Standard Interpretations
- Clarification of
the use and selection of BBP safety devices. (2008, May 5).
- Applicability of
OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard to the containment and disposal of electric razors in correctional facilities and health care settings. (2008, January 2).
- Clarification of
PPE requirements for phlebotomists performing venipunctures in hospital setting and/or rural outpatient clinics. (2007, October 26).
- The applicability
of OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standards to the use of sharps containers on hospital crash carts. (2007, June 14).
- Application of
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard to contractors who clean up blood following accidents. (2007, May 22).
- Requirements
for safety-engineered sharps for stockpiled pandemic influenza vaccines and pre-filled syringes. (2007, March 2).
- The use of
safety-engineered devices and work practice controls in operating rooms; hospital responsibility to protect independent practitioners under BBP standard. (2007, January 18).
- Use of rapid
HIV antibody testing on a source individual after an exposure incident. (2007, January 8).
- Periodic serologic testing to monitor antibody concentrations after completion of the hepatitis B vaccine three-dose series is not recommended. (2005,
November 9).
- Safety precautions, PPE, and immunizations for workers in waste water treatment facility. (2005, September 13).
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Containment and disposal requirements for disposable razors used in long-term health care facilities for personal grooming. (2005, March 28).
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Needle removal procedures for situations where other methods of disposal are infeasible or required by a specific procedure. (2004, December 9).
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Limiting factors for implementing the use of engineering controls, i.e., safety scalpels, under the Bloodborne Pathogens standard. (2004, September 1).
- Bloodborne Pathogens
Standard application to bifurcated needles; acceptability and appropriateness of safety bifurcated needles. (2004, May 27).
- Employer's responsibility
to re-evaluate engineering controls, i.e., safer needle devices, at least annually. (2004, January 20).
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Acceptable use of antiseptic-hand cleansers for bloodborne pathogen decontamination and as an appropriate handwashing practice. (2003, March
31).
- Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act and the requirement to include safety- engineered sharps devices in pre-packaged surgical kits and trays. (2003,
February 20).
- Evaluation
of sutureless catheter securement devices to prevent needlestick hazards. (2003, January 23).
- Safer
medical devices must be selected based on employee feedback and device effectiveness, not Group Purchasing Organizations. (2002, November 21).
- Application of the
bloodborne pathogens standard to veterinary clinics. (2002, October 15).
- Re-use
of blood-tube holders. (2002, June 12).
- Search all available
standard interpretations.
*These files are provided for downloading.
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