ABSTRACT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogen standard was developed to protect employees from possible exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, and other bloodborne diseases to which the employee may be exposed in the workplace. A copy of the written Bloodborne Pathogens Program and Bloodborne Pathogen Training Program for emergency medical services (EMS), as well as the OSHA standard upon which these programs are based, is located in the main office and is readily available for use by all employees. Universal Precautions is an OSHA-mandated system of infection-control techniques which operates under the premise that the only prudent way of protecting employees from bloodborne pathogens is to treat all body fluids as potentially infectious. Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, handling contact lenses, and the presence of food or beverages are prohibited in areas where Exposure can occur. Each company or organization must have a written Exposure Control Plan (ECP).
