Standards

This section highlights the OSHA standard requirements and preambles to final rules (background to final rules) related to bloodborne pathogens and needlestick prevention. Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans, which are required to be at least as effective as Federal OSHA, and may 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.

• 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens.
  • 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).

OSHA Preambles to Final Rules

• Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens (1991)
  
  
• Search all available preambles to final rules for bloodborne pathogens and needlestick prevention.

Needlestick Legislation

• Overview of State Needle Safety Legislation. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). As of June 2002, twenty-two states have enacted legislation related to needle safety.
  
  
• Needlestick Prevention and Safety Act. 106th Congress - Public Law 106-430, (2000). The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act became Public Law 106-430 on November 6, 2000.
  
  
  • In 2001, in response to the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, OSHA revised the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030).