Bloodborne pathogens

Overview

Bloodborne pathogens are microbes such as viruses and bacteria that are carried in blood and can cause disease when transmitted from an infected person through blood and certain body fluids.

Bloodborne pathogens can cause serious illness and death from illnesses such hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) from HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus. Oregon employers whose employees are exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials are covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 1910.1030.

All available content

Publications

Brochures/Guides
- Bloodborne pathogens: questions and answers about occupational exposure
  Describes Oregon OSHA's requirements for preventing exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis C virus (HCV).
  English Order printed copy 08/15/2024
- Occupational safety for the death care industry
  Developed in partnership with the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board to emphasize industry hazards, provide recommendations, and highlight related Oregon OSHA standards.
  English 09/23/2014
Checklists
- Infection control
  Checklist for infection control.
  English 10/31/2014
Fact sheets
- Bloodborne pathogens
  An overview of what employers must do to protect workers who may come into contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials that can cause serious illness or death.
  English 01/02/2023
- Lo que los empleadores necesitan saber sobre los peligros asociados con la falta de Vivienda
  What employers need to know about hazards associated with houselessness
  Oregón tiene una alta tasa de personas sin hogar y los empleadores deben seguir las reglas de OSHA de Oregón para proteger a sus empleados de los peligros relacionados.
  Spanish 02/15/2024
- Patógenos transmitidos por la sangre
  Bloodborne pathogens
  Una descripción general de lo que los empleadores deben hacer para proteger a los trabajadores que pueden entrar en contacto con sangre y otros materiales potencialmente infecciosos.
  Spanish 02/22/2024
- What employers need to know about hazards associated with houselessness
  Employers must follow certain rules to protect their employees from exposure hazards such as bloodborne pathogens, needles, and human waste.
  English 02/01/2024
- Гемоконтактные патогены
  Bloodborne Pathogens
  Стандарт в отношении гемоконтактных патогенов описывает то, что должны предпринимать работодатели для защиты работников, подвергаемых риску контактирования с кровью и другими потенциальными инфекционными материалами
  Russian 06/10/2022
Forms
- Bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan
  Use this document to help you develop your company’s exposure control plan. You can change the document to meet your company’s needs.
  English Word version 10/31/2014
- Sharps injury log
  Form for sharps injury log.
  English Word version 10/31/2014
- Statement of declination for hepatitis vaccine
  The statement must be signed by every employee who declines the hepatitis vaccine.
  English Word version 10/31/2014
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

Online course
- Bloodborne Pathogens online course
  This course is designed to assist you as an employer or manager to meet the requirements of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
  English Online course
- Curso en Línea de Patógenos Transmitidos Por La Sangre
  This course is designed to assist you as an employer or manager to meet the requirements of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
  Spanish Online course

PESO
- Biological Hazards (pptx)
  Riesgos Biológicos
  Tailgate English Spanish 11/14/2022
- Biological Hazards (pptx)
  Riesgos Biológicos
  Workbook English Spanish 11/14/2022
- Biological Hazards (pptx)
  Riesgos Biológicos
  Overhead English Spanish 11/14/2022
- Biological Hazards (PDF)
  Riesgos Biológicos
  PESO tailgate PDF about bloodborne pathogens/biological hazards.
  Tailgate English Spanish 11/14/2022
- Biological Hazards (PDF)
  Riesgos Biológicos
  PESO overhead PDF about bloodborne pathogens/biological hazards.
  Overhead English Spanish 11/14/2022
- Biological Hazards (PDF)
  Riesgos Biológicos
  PESO workbook PDF about bloodborne pathogens/biological hazards.
  Workbook English Spanish 11/14/2022
Resources
- Public Education Workshop Schedule July-December
  Schedule for in-person and virtual workshop classes around the state during July through December. Attending an Oregon OSHA class helps you gain important knowledge and skills.
  English 04/23/2025
- Public Education Workshop Schedule January-June
  Schedule for our workshop classes from January through June. Attending an Oregon OSHA class helps you gain important knowledge and skills.
  English 02/05/2025
Workshop
- Bloodborne Pathogens
  Workbook English 01/01/2003

Rules and rule-related

Adopted Rules
- Adoption of Federal SIP IV Amendments and Oregon-Initiated Changes to Administrative, General Industry, Construction, and Maritime Activity Standards.
  Administrative Order 3-2019 Rule text
Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision Z, Bloodborne Pathogens
  3-2019 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision Z, Chemical/Toxins
  Administrative Order 4-2022 Word version
Interpretations
- Biohazard bags
  10/12/2007
- Collateral duty
  10/08/2007
- Employees designated as first-aid providers
  07/30/2007
- Formaldehyde -- use in funeral homes
  01/19/1990
- Handling of infectious materials
  10/12/2007
- Handwashing in healthcare
  08/08/2007
- Medical waste
  06/02/1997
- Non-profit organizations and volunteers
  10/06/2007
- Recordkeeping, ergonomics, tuberculosis, and bloodborne pathogens
  12/21/2015
- Refresher training
  10/08/2007
- Train workers in a manner they understand
  05/04/2010
- Transportation of hazardous waste
  10/08/2007
- Volunteer employee regulations
  10/18/2007
- Waiving Hepatitis B vaccination
  07/31/2007
Program Directives
- Bloodborne Pathogens
  Purpose: This instruction establishes policies and provides clarifications to ensure uniform inspection procedures are followed when conducting inspections to enforce the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
  A-154 05/15/2013
- Citations: Paperwork and Written Program Violations
  Purpose: The purpose of this instruction is to revise and clarify Oregon OSHA's policy regarding issuance of citations for violation of "paperwork" and "written program" requirements.
  A-216 05/06/2016
Summary of comments and decisions
- Summary of comments and agency decisions regarding federal SIP-IV amendments and Oregon-initiated changes to administrative, general industry, construction, and maritime activity standards
  3-2019

Video Resources

Borrow from the Resource Center

Bloodborne Pathogens
See available titles
Borrow DVDs about Bloodborne Pathogens from the Resource Center
Needlestick Prevention
See available titles
Borow DVDs about Needlestick Prevention from the Resource Center

Watch Online

English
- Bloodborne Pathogens
  These videos are a series developed by Oregon OSHA Public Education as part of the Bloodborne pathogens online course.
  Language: English Length: various
- To The Point About Bloodborne Pathogens (TrainingVideoNow)
  Bloodborne pathogens are tiny microorganisms found in human blood or other bodily fluids that can cause diseases in humans. Controlling our exposure to bloodborne pathogens can prevent these diseases and save lives. That is the point of our facility’s Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Program and that is the point of this program.
  Language: English Length: 12 minutes
Russian
- To The Point About Bloodborne Pathogens, Russian language (TrainingVideoNow)
  Bloodborne pathogens are tiny microorganisms found in human blood or other bodily fluids that can cause diseases in humans. Controlling our exposure to bloodborne pathogens can prevent these diseases and save lives. That is the point of our facility’s Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Program and that is the point of this program.
  Language: Russian Length: 12 minutes
Spanish
- Al Punto Sobre Patógenos De La Sangre (TrainingVideoNow)
  To The Point About Bloodborne Pathogens (TrainingVideoNow)
  Our workplace is full of hazards, hazards that can hurt us or kill us. Controlling these hazards and preventing injuries or illnesses is the point of our safety and health program. One such hazard is the one presented by bloodborne pathogens.
  Language: Spanish Length: 12 minutes
- Patógenos Transmitidos Por La Sangre
  Videos included in the Bloodborne pathogens online course.
  Vídeos incluidos en el curso online de Patógenos transmitidos por la sangre.
  Language: Spanish Length: various

Additional Resources

Highlights

Bloodborne Pathogens: Questions and Answers about Occupational Exposure