Bloodborne pathogens and vaccinations

April 6, 2022

The bloodborne pathogens standard is not just for employees in health care. Any employee with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) falls under the standard.

In layman’s terms, occupational exposure means reasonably anticipated contact with blood or OPIM as a result of job duties. For example, employees designated to provide first aid or medical assistance as part of their job duties are covered by the bloodborne standard.

Good Samaritans are not covered if they are not expected to provide medical assistance. Some employees may choose to help injured coworkers, but employers cannot anticipate which individuals (not designated as responders) might choose to help an injured coworker.

Vaccination provisions

Covered employees must be offered the hepatitis B vaccination. If they decline, they must sign a vaccine declination, found in Appendix A to 1910.1030.

It may happen that some employees decline because they already received the vaccination. If so, medical documentation of that vaccination should be included in the employee’s file. If documentation cannot be obtained, the employee must sign the declination form.

Note that someone could initially decline the vaccination but later change his or her mind and request it. If the employee’s duties still involve occupational exposure, the employer must make the vaccination available.

Finally, if an employee has an exposure incident while acting as a Good Samaritan, the employer is not required to provide the vaccination series or offer the post-exposure evaluation or other follow-up. However, OSHA encourages employers to do so.

Publish Date

April 6, 2022

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Industry News

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