Who is covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?

Any employee whose job duties create a 'reasonably anticipated' risk of contact with blood or OPIM — including nurses, phlebotomists, EMTs, paramedics, funeral home workers, housekeeping staff in medical facilities, laundry workers handling soiled linens, and laboratory technicians. The standard does not apply to 'Good Samaritan' acts outside of an employee's duties. Employers must determine which job classifications have occupational exposure and document them in the Exposure Control Plan.

What must be in an Exposure Control Plan (ECP)?

An ECP must include: (1) an exposure determination listing job classifications with occupational exposure; (2) a schedule for implementing compliance methods (engineering controls, PPE, work practices); (3) post-exposure evaluation and follow-up procedures; (4) documentation that non-managerial employees with direct patient/exposure contact were consulted in selecting engineering controls; and (5) annual review documenting consideration and implementation of new safer medical devices.

Can an employee decline the hepatitis B vaccine?

Yes. If an employee declines, the employer must have the employee sign a declination statement as specified in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.1030. The employee may later reconsider and accept the vaccine at any time while still having occupational exposure — still at no cost to the employee.

OSHA term · Glossary

Bloodborne Pathogens

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

Pathogenic microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease — primarily Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) applies to all workers with 'occupational exposure' — reasonably anticipated contact with blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM) — and requires a written Exposure Control Plan, engineering controls, PPE, HBV vaccination at no cost, annual training, and post-exposure follow-up.

29 CFR 1910.103029 CFR 1910.1030(b)

Also known as: BBP, bloodborne infectious diseases, 1910.1030

Bloodborne Pathogens at a glance

Primary agents: HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV).
HBV is 50–100× more infectious than HIV; a single needlestick from an HBV-positive patient carries a 6–30% transmission risk for an unvaccinated worker.
HBV vaccine must be offered within 10 working days of initial assignment, at no cost to the employee (1910.1030(f)(1)(i)).
OPIM (Other Potentially Infectious Materials) includes semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, amniotic fluid, and blood-contaminated body fluids.
Exposure Control Plan must be reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever tasks or procedures change.
Medical records must be maintained for the duration of employment plus 30 years.
Training records must be kept for 3 years from the date of training.
Applies to ~5.6 million U.S. workers in healthcare, public safety, housekeeping, laundry, and similar occupations.

In plain English

Germs in human blood that can cause serious infections. OSHA's rules require employers to have a written protection plan, offer hepatitis B vaccines free of charge within 10 working days of assignment, and train workers before any task that might involve blood contact. If a worker is stuck by a contaminated needle, the employer must provide a confidential medical evaluation at no cost.

What the rule says

“Occupational Exposure means reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee's duties.”
29 CFR 1910.1030(b) — Occupational Exposure

In context

An enforcement, recordkeeping, or general-duty concept under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and 29 CFR. These terms define how OSHA inspects, cites, and penalizes employers.

29 CFR Chapter XVII

Where this is written in OSHA's rules

29 CFR 1910.1030Read on eCFR / OSHA.gov
29 CFR 1910.1030(b)Read on eCFR / OSHA.gov

Example

A hospital housekeeper is assigned to clean patient care areas. Within 10 working days of that assignment, the employer must offer HBV vaccination at no cost. The housekeeper's initial training covers sharps containers, glove use, and the post-exposure follow-up procedure. When the housekeeper is accidentally stuck by a contaminated needle, the employer must provide a confidential medical evaluation — including baseline and follow-up blood tests, and counseling — at no cost and without identifying the employee to management.

Why it matters

HBV is 50–100× more infectious than HIV. Without vaccination and proper engineering controls (needleless devices, sharps containers), a single occupational exposure can result in a life-threatening chronic infection. The standard's HBV vaccination requirement has dramatically reduced occupational HBV transmission since its 1991 implementation. Employers who fail to implement an Exposure Control Plan or offer vaccination face OSHA citations with serious penalty amounts per violation.

Universal Precautions vs. Standard Precautions

OSHA's 1910.1030 uses the term 'Universal Precautions' — treat ALL human blood and OPIM as potentially infectious, regardless of a patient's known status. Healthcare accreditation bodies (CDC, The Joint Commission) use the broader term 'Standard Precautions,' which also covers respiratory secretions and non-blood body fluids not included in OPIM. For OSHA compliance, follow Universal Precautions as defined in 1910.1030(d)(1). In practice, applying Standard Precautions meets and exceeds the OSHA Universal Precautions standard.

29 CFR 1910.1030 Requirements at a Glance

Requirement	Specification
Exposure Control Plan	Written; updated annually and when tasks or procedures change
HBV Vaccination	Offered within 10 working days of assignment, at no cost to the employee
Engineering Controls	Needleless systems, self-sheathing needles, sharps disposal containers
PPE	Gloves, gowns, masks/face shields as appropriate to the task
Training	At initial assignment; at least annually thereafter; interactive Q&A required
Post-Exposure Follow-Up	Confidential medical evaluation at no cost; no identifying information disclosed
Medical Record Retention	Duration of employment + 30 years
Training Record Retention	3 years from training date

Bloodborne Pathogens: frequently asked questions

Who is covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?: Any employee whose job duties create a 'reasonably anticipated' risk of contact with blood or OPIM — including nurses, phlebotomists, EMTs, paramedics, funeral home workers, housekeeping staff in medical facilities, laundry workers handling soiled linens, and laboratory technicians. The standard does not apply to 'Good Samaritan' acts outside of an employee's duties. Employers must determine which job classifications have occupational exposure and document them in the Exposure Control Plan.
What must be in an Exposure Control Plan (ECP)?: An ECP must include: (1) an exposure determination listing job classifications with occupational exposure; (2) a schedule for implementing compliance methods (engineering controls, PPE, work practices); (3) post-exposure evaluation and follow-up procedures; (4) documentation that non-managerial employees with direct patient/exposure contact were consulted in selecting engineering controls; and (5) annual review documenting consideration and implementation of new safer medical devices.
Can an employee decline the hepatitis B vaccine?: Yes. If an employee declines, the employer must have the employee sign a declination statement as specified in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.1030. The employee may later reconsider and accept the vaccine at any time while still having occupational exposure — still at no cost to the employee.

More OSHA terms

Abatement

The action an employer takes to fix a cited violation or eliminate a hazard OSHA identified during an inspection. The citation sets an abatement date, the deadline to correct the hazard, and within 10 calendar days after that date the employer must certify to OSHA that the violation was abated. Failure to abate accrues additional penalties of up to $16,550 per day.

Area Director

The senior OSHA official in charge of a specific OSHA Area Office — the local unit that runs inspections and enforcement in its geographic territory. The Area Director has the authority to issue citations, propose penalties, hold informal conferences with employers, and approve settlement agreements. When a Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) completes an inspection, it's the Area Director who ultimately issues the citation.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

The federal statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Labor that collects, analyzes, and publishes data on workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. BLS conducts the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) — compiled from employer OSHA 300 logs — and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). SOII data drives OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program: establishments whose DART rates significantly exceed their BLS industry average are placed on the SST inspection list.

Competent Person

Under OSHA's construction standards, a person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions, and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. The role requires both knowledge and the authority to act, and is mandated by name in many specific standards — excavations, scaffolds, fall protection, asbestos, and more.

Citation

The formal written notice OSHA issues to an employer after an inspection, describing each alleged violation, the standard cited, the proposed penalty, and the date by which the hazard must be corrected (abated). OSHA must issue a citation with reasonable promptness and no later than six months after the violation occurred.

Closing Conference

The meeting at the end of an OSHA inspection where the compliance officer confers with the employer and informally advises them of any apparent violations found. Importantly, the closing conference discusses what was observed and the employer's rights — but it does NOT state final citations or penalties, which come later in the written Citation and Notification of Penalty.

Compliance Officer (CSHO)

An OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer — the inspector who conducts workplace inspections. A CSHO presents credentials (a photo ID and a serial number), holds the opening conference, performs the walkaround, collects evidence, interviews employees, and recommends citations. CSHOs are either safety specialists or industrial hygienists.

Contest

An employer's formal challenge to an OSHA citation, penalty, or abatement date. To contest, the employer must file a written Notice of Contest with the OSHA Area Director within 15 working days of receiving the Citation and Notification of Penalty. Filing sends the case to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC); missing the deadline makes the citation a final, un-appealable order.

Sources & verification

Reviewed by HazComFast against eCFR, OSHA.gov, NIOSH, and the Federal Register. Last reviewed 2026-10-05. This glossary is general information, not legal advice; OSHA State-Plan states (e.g. California, Michigan) may adopt stricter requirements.

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