Blood Regulations & OSHA

In many places in the workforce, workers are exposed to hazardous materials. One such hazardous material is blood. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, establishes regulations and standards for dealing properly with blood and bloodborne pathogens. OSHA defines a bloodborne pathogen as a harmful microorganism in human blood that can cause diseases.

Exposure Control Plan

• Every employer is required by OSHA to create an exposure control plan. This type of plan outlines what kinds of measures will be taken to get rid of or minimize an employee's risk of exposure to blood and other infectious materials. The plan must identify which types of jobs would pose exposure risks and stipulate methods of compliance, communication with employees and proper recordkeeping of risks and/or incidents.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Any time there is potential for exposure to hazardous materials such as blood and bloodborne pathogens, the employer must provide all necessary personal protective wear to the employees. Such equipment may include gloves, gowns, lab coats, face shields, masks and eye protection. The equipment provided must not let the infectious material to pass through or reach an employee's work clothes, eyes or mouth.

Labeling

• OSHA requires that all biohazards have a special warning label that includes the universal biohazard symbol with the word "biohazard." The two are to be placed on all labels to indicate contaminated waste or laundry, and on any container used to store blood. OSHA allows for a red bag or container to be substituted for a label.