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Standard Interpretations
11/01/2000 - Hepatitis B vaccination requirements for employees providing first aid as a collateral duty. |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
Standard Number: | 1910.1030(f)(2); 1960 |
November 1, 2000 John J. Perkner, DO, MSPH AED Medical Director, FOH Public Health Service Denver Area Office P.O. Box 25145 Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225-0145 Dear Dr. Perkner: Thank you for your September 11, 2000 letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Your letter has been referred to OSHA's [Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP)] for a response to your questions regarding the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination as it pertains to first aiders and initial responders in federal buildings. Your letter follows several phone conversations you had with members of the [DEP] staff. We hope this letter serves your need for further clarification of this issue. Your question is outlined below, followed by our response. We apologize for the delay. Please be aware that this response may not be applicable to any situation not delineated within your original correspondence. [Do] certain team members, who perform [emergency response to cardiac events] [and are] voluntarily on a response team, need hepatitis B immunizations as soon as they are on the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) response team or [can] this immunization be given after a potential exposure? The delay in administering the hepatitis B vaccine would only apply to those employees whose place on the AED team was considered collateral work.In a telephone conversation you had with a member of our staff, you asked that we clarify the role that OSHA has in protecting federal employees with regard to their occupational safety and health. Simply for your information, federal employees are covered by OSHA's congressional mandate. Section 19 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) of 1970 and Executive Order (EO) 12196 establish that the head of each Federal agency is responsible for ensuring a safe and healthful workplace. In meeting this responsibility, the head of each Federal agency is required to establish and maintain a comprehensive occupational safety and health (OSH) program which is consistent with the standards promulgated under Section 6 of the Act. The Federal Register, 29 CFR 1960, establishes how the head of each agency must operate the Agency's OSH program. The OSH Act, the Federal Register, EO 12196, and all OSHA Regulations are available on our website at http://www.osha.gov. According to the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and OSHA enforcement policy, all employees with occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) must be covered by the standard. This would include, in addition to all the applicable provisions of the standard, the administration of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination series prior to employee exposure, as indicated by paragraph (f)(2) of the standard, and provided according to recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service. In reference to your situation, OSHA has provided an exception in its enforcement policy. According to the compliance directive, [CPL 2-2.69] Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, employers would not be cited if they have not offered the hepatitis B vaccination series to an employee whose only exposure to blood would be responding to injuries resulting from workplace incidents as long as this was only a collateral duty of the employee and certain other requirements have been met. Members of your AED Team would also fall under this category if the same conditions existed. The requirements of the exemption stated in the compliance directive are: ["b. Any first aid rendered by such person is rendered only as a collateral duty, responding solely to injuries resulting from workplace incidents, generally at the location where the incident occurred.Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and health. We hope you find this information helpful. OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information.To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the [Office of Health Enforcement] at (202) 693-2190. Sincerely, Richard E. Fairfax, Director [Directorate of Enforcement Programs] |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
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