Bloodborne Pathogens

The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, WAC 296-823, provides requirements to protect employees from exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) that may contain bloodborne pathogens. There are many bloodborne pathogens, but the main infections that pose the greatest risk to workers are the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to you if you have employees with occupational exposure to blood or OPIM, even if no actual exposure incidents have occurred.

Regulatory & Policy 

• Bloodborne Pathogens, WAC 296-823
• Agriculture Only: WAC 296-307-039

• Fire Fighting , 305-01515(4), 305-02501 WAC

• Bloodborne Pathogens and Minors
• Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

Resources 

• Bloodborne Infectious Diseases: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B Virus, and Hepatitis C Virus - An information and links page from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Page - Contains a wealth of information on bloodborne pathogens and regulatory requirements.
• International Health Care Worker Safety Center - The International Health Care Worker Safety Center at the University of Virginia Health System is dedicated to the prevention of occupational transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Includes the EPINet Exposure Information Network.
• Safer Medical Device Evaluation - This document provides guidance on the selection and evaluation of safer medical devices.
• NIOSH ALERT: Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Health Care Settings - DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-108 (1999, November), 23 pages. Includes information on the risk of infections after a needlestick injury. Includes information on the risk of infections after a needlestick injury (NSI), common activities and devices involved in NSIs, use of engineering controls to prevent injuries, recommendations and resources.
• Selecting, Evaluating, and Using Sharps Disposal Containers - DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-111 (1998, January), 29 pages. Includes performance criteria, and methods for the selection and use of sharps containers.
• Guideline for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals - Provides instruction of the use of standard, contact, droplet, and airborne precautions.
• Immunization of Health-Care Workers. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (APIC) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) - Centers for Disease Control Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, December 26, 1997, Vol. 46. No. RR19.
• Updated US Public Health Service (PHS) Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 2001, June 24, 50(RR-11).
• National Toll-Free Hotline for Clinicians Treating Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Hotline. Health Resources and Services Administration, CDC (1997, December 4). This national 24 hour a day toll-free hotline called Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline), offers immediate counseling and treatment options to health care workers exposed to bloodborne diseases and infections. Phone: 1-(888) 448-4911.
• Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis. MMWR September 30, 2005/vol. 54/ No. RR-9

Training Resources

• L&I Safety and Health Video Library - L&I's video catalog includes a variety of bloodborne pathogens related titles.
• Bloodborne Pathogens Training Kit - Developed by WISHA's Training and Outreach Services. Provides a slide presentation to comply with the training requirements of the WISHA bloodborne pathogens regulations (WAC 296-823).
• Bloodborne Pathogens Update, 2005 - A downloadable Powerpoint presentation (807 KB) focusing on the sharps safety requirements mandated by the federal Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. ( NOTE :  This file requires that you have Microsoft Power Point.  If you do not have PowerPoint you can download a free PowerPoint Viewer from Microsoft. 

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