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Bloodborne Pathogens
In
1990, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimated that occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens
caused more than 200 deaths and 9,000 bloodborne infections every year. To help protect workers from this serious workplace
hazard, OSHA published the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard in 1991.
All employees
who could "reasonably anticipate" facing contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials while
on the job are covered by the standard. Properly training workers is one of the components of OSHA's
Bloodborne Pathogen Standard; employees must receive training when they are first assigned to tasks where potential exposure
to bloodborne pathogens may occur, and must be repeated annually.
Prevention and Protection
Protect yourself and your employees from the dangers of biohazards. Practice universal precautions, keep
protective eqiupment easily accessible, and display the appropriate warning signs and labels. Follow proper housekeeping guidelines
and know how to properly dispose of potentially infectious waste.
Waste Management In
July 2008, the Department of Public Health updated the requirements for management of medical or biological wastes (105
CMR 4800.000). New rules include on-site logs for disinfection of wastes, off-site shipping logs for shipments of Bio
and Medical Wastes for destruction, shipping paper retention, shipping paper tracking and new storage area requirements.
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