Who Is Covered by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, covers employees with occupational exposure, meaning reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from job duties. Coverage turns on the tasks performed, not the job title, and each employer must document a written exposure determination.

The standard applies to all occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) (29 CFR 1910.1030(a)). "Occupational exposure" is defined by what an employee can reasonably be anticipated to contact while doing the job. "Parenteral" contact means piercing the skin or mucous membranes, such as through needlesticks, human bites, cuts and abrasions (29 CFR 1910.1030(b)).

Each employer with exposed employees must prepare a written exposure determination that lists (29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(2)):

• Job classifications in which all employees have occupational exposure.
• Job classifications in which some employees have occupational exposure.
• The tasks and procedures in which exposure occurs for that second group.

The determination is made without regard to personal protective equipment (29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(2)(ii)). An employee who wears gloves for every blood draw is still counted as exposed.

Common examples include nurses, phlebotomists, laboratory staff, emergency responders and others whose duties involve blood. An employee who is designated to give first aid as part of the job can be covered. OSHA has explained in interpretation letters that a purely voluntary Good Samaritan act by an employee who is not assigned first aid duties is not occupational exposure under the standard.

Covered employees must receive training, access to the hepatitis B vaccine, protective equipment and post-exposure follow-up, all at no cost to the employee (29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(3), (f) and (g)(2)).

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