OSHA Safety Standards & Bloodborne Pathogens

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces federal workplace safety standards. For medical assistants, the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and Hazard Communication Standard are the most relevant and heavily tested topics.

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Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)

Primary Bloodborne Pathogens

Employer Requirements

• Maintain a written Exposure Control Plan (reviewed and updated annually)
• Provide hepatitis B vaccine free of charge within 10 business days of hire for at-risk employees
• Provide appropriate PPE at no cost to employees
• Implement engineering controls (safety needles, sharps containers, splash guards)
• Implement work practice controls (hand hygiene, no recapping needles, proper sharps disposal)
• Ensure biohazardous waste is properly labeled, stored, and disposed of
• Provide annual training on bloodborne pathogens for all at-risk employees
• Maintain a sharps injury log to track and analyze incidents
• Offer post-exposure evaluation and follow-up after exposure incidents

Employee Responsibilities

• Follow all safety procedures in the Exposure Control Plan
• Use PPE appropriately and consistently
• Report all exposure incidents immediately to supervisor
• Participate in required training
• Use safety-engineered sharps devices
• Dispose of sharps in designated containers at the point of use
• Never recap, bend, or break used needles

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Post-Exposure Protocol (Needlestick Injury)

Follow these steps immediately after a needlestick or blood/body fluid exposure:

1. Wash the wound site immediately with soap and water (flush mucous membranes with water for 15 minutes)
2. Do NOT squeeze the wound to force bleeding
3. Report the incident to your supervisor immediately
4. Document the incident (date, time, circumstances, type of exposure, source patient info)
5. Source patient testing: With consent, test source patient for HBV, HCV, and HIV
6. Baseline labs: Draw exposed worker's blood for baseline HBV, HCV, and HIV testing
7. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): If indicated, begin within 1-2 hours (HIV PEP) or 24 hours (HBV HBIG)
8. Follow-up testing: At 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-exposure
9. Counseling: Provide information about risk, testing timeline, and precautions during follow-up period

Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard

The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) -- also called the "Right to Know" law -- requires employers to inform employees about hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Key Components

SDS (Safety Data Sheet) -- 16 Required Sections

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Sharps Safety and Waste Disposal

Sharps Disposal Rules

• Use puncture-resistant, leak-proof, red biohazard sharps containers
• Place containers at the point of use (within arm's reach)
• Never overfill -- replace when 2/3 to 3/4 full
• Never reach into a sharps container
• Never recap used needles using two hands (if recapping is absolutely necessary, use the one-handed scoop technique)
• Activate safety mechanisms on needles immediately after use

Biohazardous Waste Categories