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: Exposure to blood or body fluids. Nurse(s) and housekeeping personnel (responsible for cleaning the nurse's office) were exposed to the hazard of being infected by bloodborne pathogens through possible direct contact with blood or body fluids. Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard are: 1) Provide training to all employees at risk of exposure to blood and/or body fluids. Such training should cover precautionary measures, epidemiology, modes of transmission and prevention of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. In addition training should cover the location and proper use of personal protective equipment, proper work practices and the concept of "Universal Precautions". Finally, such workers should be trained about the meaning of color coding or other methods used to designate contaminated articles or infectious waste and procedures to be followed in the event of parenteral exposure such as needlestick. 2) Offer hepatitis B vaccination to workers who may be exposed to blood or body fluids.