Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: BLOODBORNE

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: (a) Surgical technicians in the Operating Rooms were exposed to the hazard of being infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids while inserting or rearranging various sized contaminated surgical needles and blades in an overly full needle and blade counter/disposal unit. One feasible and useful abatement method for reducing this hazard, among others, are by utilizing larger disposal units. (b) Phlebotomists in the Outpatient Laboratory were exposed to the hazard of being infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids while inserting contaminated needles into an overly full needle disposal container. Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this, among others, are use of a larger disposal container or more frequent pickups.