ABSTRACT
Protection of the pathologist, autopsy assistants, investigators, and medical personnel at the autopsy is not just a good idea — it is required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The required methods of protection are called universal precautions. To perform an autopsy, the pathologist and the assistant wear hats, masks, gowns, shoe covers, mesh gloves, and latex gloves (Figure 3.1). Some facilities use vacuumassisted saws to gather bone dust from skull and rib sawing. All cases are treated as potentially infectious from bloodborne pathogens. Although pathologists handle those cases known to be infectious with care, they must not be casual about the routine case that can harbor a latent hepatitis virus or human immunodeÞciency virus (HIV), for example. All cases need to be treated as potentially infectious
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