OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard requirements
OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard requirements
OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard sets the following training requirements:
- Annual training for all employees shall be provided within one year of their previous training.
- Employers shall provide additional training when changes such as modification of tasks or procedures or institution of new tasks or procedures affect the employee's occupational exposure. The additional training may be limited to addressing the new exposures created.
- Material appropriate in content and vocabulary to educational level, literacy, and language of employees shall be used.
- The training program shall contain, at a minimum, the following elements:
— an accessible copy of the regulatory text of this standard and an explanation of its contents;
— a general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases;
— an explanation of the modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens;
— an explanation of the employer's exposure control plan and the means by which the employee can obtain a copy of the written plan;
— an explanation of the appropriate methods for recognizing tasks and other activities that may involve exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials;
— an explanation of the use and limitations of methods that will prevent or reduce exposure, including appropriate engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment;
— information on the types, proper use, location, removal, handling, decontamination, and disposal of personal protective equipment;
— an explanation of the basis for selection of personal protective equipment;
— information on the hepatitis B vaccine, including information on its efficacy, safety, method of administration, the benefits of being vaccinated, and that the vaccine and vaccination will be offered free of charge;
— information on the appropriate actions to take and persons to contact in an emergency involving blood or other potentially infectious materials;
— an explanation of the procedure to follow if an exposure incident occurs, including the method of reporting the incident and the medical follow-up that will be made available;
— information on the post-exposure evaluation and follow-up that the employer is required to provide for the employee following an exposure incident;
— an explanation of the signs and labels and/or color coding required (warning labels on containers of regulated waste, containers of blood, blood components or blood products or other potentially infectious materials, or contaminated equipment and for HIV and HBV research laboratories and production facilities);
— an opportunity for interactive questions and answers with the person conducting the training session.
- The person conducting the training shall be knowledgeable in the subject matter covered by the elements contained in the training program as they relate to the workplace that the training will address.
(Editor's note: The complete OSHA standard is available at www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodborne pathogens/index.html.)
OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard sets the following training requirements.Subscribe Now for Access
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