Bloodborne Pathogens

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) issued the Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Standard to protect employees from exposure to infected blood and body fluids in the workplace. OSHA is the federal agency that assures the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards, providing training, outreach, and education, establishing partnerships, and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.

All health care employers are required to develop a written Exposure Control Plan (ECP) and have it available for employees to review. The Plan answers some important questions:

• Based on job duties, which employees are at risk of occupational exposure to infected blood and body fluids?
• What measures can the employer and employees take to protect themselves from exposure?
• Are employees trained on these measures?
• Are there documented procedures to follow?

Under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standards, employers must keep records of all employee exposures to blood and body fluids.