Federal OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to employers whose workers can reasonably be expected to contact blood or other potentially infectious materials as part of their job. Hospitals and clinics come to mind first, but the rule can also reach janitorial staff, security officers, maintenance workers and designated first-aid responders in ordinary businesses. Colorado private employers are generally covered by federal OSHA rather than a state plan.

For employers covered by the standard, requirements commonly include a written exposure control plan, training for exposed employees, appropriate protective equipment, an offer of hepatitis B vaccination, and a process for evaluating and following up on exposures. Whether and how it applies to a particular business is a question for OSHA's resources or a safety professional. What is clear for everyone: an employee who has never been trained should not be handed a mop and told to clean up a significant blood spill.

Terms you may hear

OPIM
Other potentially infectious materials. Certain body fluids and materials treated like blood under the standard.
Exposure control plan
A written plan describing which jobs have exposure risk and how the employer protects those workers.
Universal precautions
Treating all blood and OPIM as if infectious, regardless of the source.
Engineering controls
Equipment that isolates or removes the hazard, such as sharps containers.
Post-exposure evaluation
Confidential medical evaluation and follow-up offered after an employee is exposed.
Regulated waste
Waste saturated with blood or OPIM, or contaminated sharps, which must be handled and disposed of under applicable rules.

When an incident happens on site

  1. Care for the injured person.Call 911 for serious injuries. First aid should be given by trained responders using gloves.
  2. Isolate the area.Close it off with cones, doors or tape. Redirect customers and employees around it.
  3. Decide who cleans.If trained employees with protective equipment and an exposure plan are available, they may handle a small spill. Otherwise, bring in outside cleanup.
  4. Handle exposures.If an employee had contact, follow your post-exposure procedure and get them evaluated promptly.
  5. Record what happened.Document the incident, the cleanup and any exposures. Some work-related injuries must be recorded or reported under OSHA rules.

Questions for an outside biohazard provider

  1. Have the workers you send completed bloodborne pathogens training, and can you show training records?
  2. Can the work be scheduled before opening or after closing to limit disruption?
  3. Will you provide written documentation of what was cleaned and how waste was disposed of?
  4. How will you handle surfaces like carpet tiles, ceiling tiles and fabric partitions?
  5. Who should my staff contact during the job, and how will you communicate completion?

Common questions

Can a regular janitorial service clean a blood spill?
Some janitorial staff are trained under the standard for routine incidents. For a large spill or anything involving porous materials, ask whether they have the training, equipment and disposal arrangements, and consider a specialist.

General information for the Denver area, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.