Bloodborne Pathogens

Background

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates facilities where employees could be exposed to bloodborne pathogens by promoting safe work practices to minimize the incidence of disease caused by these pathogens. Relative to this goal, OSHA enacted the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard(29CFR1910.1030). The purpose of the standard is to reduce occupational exposure to human bloodborne pathogens (PDF format) that employees may come in contact with in the workplace and to establish a framework for training and medical response.

The University of Arizona's Exposure Control Plan

The Department of Risk Management Services has developed an Exposure Control Plan (ECP) to comply with the standard. The ECP provides guidelines and procedures to prevent or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The ECP is policy of the University of Arizona.

In concert with the ECP, RMS provides mandatory training for employees with a reasonably anticipated exposure to human blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials. Schedules of training classes can be found in the Training section of the RMS website.