How Long Must Bloodborne Pathogens Training and Medical Records Be Kept?

Under 29 CFR 1910.1030(h), bloodborne pathogens training records must be kept for three years from the training date. Medical records for each employee with occupational exposure must be kept confidential and kept for at least the duration of employment plus 30 years. The sharps injury log is kept for five years under OSHA recordkeeping rules.

Training records (1910.1030(h)(2)). Each record must include:

• The dates of the training sessions.
• The contents or a summary of the training.
• The names and qualifications of the persons conducting the training.
• The names and job titles of everyone who attended.

Training records are kept for 3 years from the date the training occurred. A course completion certificate alone may not show all four items, so employers may keep the course outline and trainer information with it.

Medical records (1910.1030(h)(1)). For each employee with occupational exposure, the record includes the employee's name, hepatitis B vaccination status and dates, results of post-exposure examinations and testing, the employer's copy of the healthcare professional's written opinion, and the information given to the healthcare professional. These records must be kept confidential and not disclosed without the employee's express written consent except as required by law (1910.1030(h)(1)(iii)). They are kept for at least the duration of employment plus 30 years in line with 29 CFR 1910.1020 (1910.1030(h)(1)(iv)).

Sharps injury log. Kept for the period required by 29 CFR 1904.33, which is five years following the end of the calendar year the records cover (1910.1030(h)(5)(iii)).

Access. Records must be available to OSHA and NIOSH on request. Training records must be provided to employees and their representatives on request (1910.1030(h)(3)).

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