Bloodborne Pathogens: Definition, Risks, and Prevention

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms found in human blood that can cause disease in humans. Exposure can occur when infected blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) enter the body through needlesticks, cuts or broken skin, or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth.

While bloodborne pathogens are often associated with healthcare settings, workers across many industries may encounter blood or OPIM as part of their job duties. Understanding these risks and following appropriate prevention practices, including proper work procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE), and bloodborne pathogens training courses , can help reduce the risk of occupational exposure.

In this blog, we'll explain what bloodborne pathogens are, where they can be found, how they're transmitted, who may be at risk of exposure, and the precautions employers and workers can take to help prevent exposure.

What Are Bloodborne Pathogens?

Bloodborne pathogens are pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. In other words, they are infectious microorganisms capable of being transmitted through exposure to infected blood and, depending on the pathogen and circumstances, other potentially infectious materials.

Bloodborne pathogens are a workplace safety concern because exposure can occur while employees perform routine job duties. A worker could experience an accidental needlestick, handle contaminated equipment, come into contact with blood through broken skin, or be exposed through the eyes, nose, or mouth.

These risks aren't limited to hospitals and medical offices. First responders, laboratory employees, housekeeping workers, tattoo artists, and others may perform tasks that put them in contact with blood or OPIM.

Where Can Bloodborne Pathogens Be Found?

Bloodborne pathogens can be found in human blood. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard also addresses occupational exposure to certain materials classified as other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).

Knowing what qualifies as OPIM is important because not every body fluid is automatically classified this way under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.

Certain laboratory materials involving HIV or hepatitis B virus (HBV) also meet OSHA's definition of OPIM.

Understanding where exposure hazards may exist is an important part of recognizing bloodborne pathogen hazards and risks .

How Are Bloodborne Pathogens Transmitted?

Bloodborne pathogen transmission requires infectious material to enter another person's body through an appropriate route of exposure. Simply being near someone who has a bloodborne infection doesn't constitute occupational exposure.

In the workplace, bloodborne pathogens can enter the body when infected blood or OPIM comes into contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes or enters the body through a needlestick, cut, or other puncture.

Common occupational exposure routes include the following.

Needlesticks and Sharps Injuries

Needlesticks are among the most recognizable occupational bloodborne pathogen hazards. An injury from a contaminated needle can introduce infected blood directly into another person's bloodstream.

Other contaminated sharps can create similar risks. Depending on the workplace, these could include scalpels, lancets, broken glass, or other objects capable of cutting or puncturing the skin.

Workers should follow their employer's procedures for using, handling, and disposing of needles and other sharps and use required engineering controls designed to eliminate or minimize exposure.

Cuts and Broken Skin

Blood or OPIM can create an exposure risk when it contacts non-intact skin.

Cuts, abrasions, dermatitis, and other breaks in the skin can provide a route of entry. Workers should therefore avoid direct contact with blood and OPIM and use appropriate protective barriers whenever occupational exposure can reasonably be anticipated.

Eyes, Nose, and Mouth

The mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth are another potential route of exposure.

Splashes, sprays, spatters, or droplets generated during certain tasks may reach these areas. Appropriate face and eye protection is particularly important when this type of exposure can reasonably be anticipated.

What Are the Most Common Bloodborne Pathogens?

Many infectious microorganisms can be transmitted through blood. Some of the bloodborne pathogens of greatest concern in occupational settings include:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) : A virus that can cause liver infection and may result in either acute or chronic disease.
• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) : A virus that affects the liver and can cause both acute and chronic infection.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) : A virus that attacks the immune system and, without treatment, can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

These aren't the only infectious agents that may be associated with exposure to blood. Learn more about the most common bloodborne pathogens and the risks associated with them.

Who Is at Risk of Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure?

Occupational exposure can occur whenever job duties create a reasonably anticipated risk of contact with blood or OPIM.

Workers who may encounter these hazards include:

• Doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, phlebotomists, and other healthcare professionals
• Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and other first responders
• Dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other dental employees
• Laboratory personnel who handle blood or potentially infectious specimens
• Housekeeping, laundry, and janitorial employees who may encounter contaminated materials
• Law enforcement and public safety personnel
• Funeral home and mortuary employees
• Tattoo artists and body piercers
• Employees responsible for handling certain medical or regulated waste
• Workers who provide first aid or emergency response as part of their occupational duties

Healthcare workers face particularly frequent opportunities for exposure because of their contact with patients, needles, sharps, specimens, and other potentially contaminated materials. Learn more about bloodborne pathogens in healthcare .

Dental professionals face their own occupational risks involving sharps, patient blood, and saliva during dental procedures. Our guide to bloodborne pathogens in dental offices takes a closer look at those hazards.

How Can Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Be Prevented?

Bloodborne pathogens prevention requires more than relying on a single piece of protective equipment or safety procedure. Effective exposure prevention combines multiple layers of protection.

Important measures include:

• Following Universal Precautions
• Using engineering and work practice controls
• Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Practicing proper hand hygiene
• Handling needles and sharps safely
• Cleaning and decontaminating affected surfaces appropriately
• Placing contaminated sharps and regulated waste in appropriate containers
• Following the employer's exposure control procedures
• Completing required workplace safety training
• Offering Hepatitis B immunization to at-risk health care personnel

Follow Universal Precautions

Universal Precautions are fundamental to preventing occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Universal Precautions means treating all human blood and certain human body fluids as though they are known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens.

Workers shouldn't make safety decisions based on whether a person appears healthy or is known to have an infection. Instead, appropriate precautions should be followed whenever occupational exposure to blood or OPIM is reasonably anticipated.

In healthcare settings, workers may also be familiar with Standard Precautions, a broader infection-control approach. However, Universal Precautions remains the terminology specifically incorporated into OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.

Use Appropriate PPE

For healthcare personnel at risk for bloodborne pathogen exposure, PPE helps create a barrier between workers and potentially infectious materials. The appropriate PPE depends on the task and the type and degree of anticipated exposure.

Depending on the circumstances, it may include:

• Gloves
• Gowns
• Laboratory coats
• Aprons or other protective clothing
• Masks
• Goggles or other eye protection
• Face shields

For example, gloves are appropriate when hand contact with blood, OPIM, non-intact skin, mucous membranes, or contaminated surfaces or items can reasonably be anticipated. Masks combined with eye protection or face shields may be necessary when splashes, sprays, spatters, or droplets could reach the eyes, nose, or mouth.

OSHA requires covered employers to provide appropriate PPE at no cost to employees with occupational exposure.

Follow Safe Work Practices

Work practice controls reduce exposure by changing how employees perform tasks.

Depending on the job, safe work practices can include washing hands after removing gloves, handling contaminated equipment appropriately, and following safe procedures around needles and other sharps.

Engineering controls work alongside these practices by isolating or removing hazards from the workplace. Examples include sharps disposal containers, needleless systems, and medical devices with engineered sharps injury protections.

Employees should follow the procedures established in their workplace's exposure control plan rather than improvising when blood or OPIM is present.

Dispose of Contaminated Materials Safely

Improper handling or disposal of contaminated materials can create additional opportunities for exposure.

Contaminated sharps should be placed in appropriate sharps containers as soon as feasible after use. Other regulated waste must also be handled and contained according to applicable workplace procedures and OSHA requirements.

Workers responsible for spills, contaminated surfaces, or regulated waste should follow their employer's established procedures and use the required protective equipment.

For a more detailed look at these procedures, read our guide to bloodborne pathogen cleanup and disposal .

What Does OSHA Require for Bloodborne Pathogens?

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030 , applies to occupational exposure to blood or OPIM.

When the standard applies, employer responsibilities can include:

• Establishing a written Exposure Control Plan
• Determining which job classifications and tasks involve occupational exposure
• Following Universal Precautions
• Using appropriate engineering and work practice controls
• Providing required PPE at no cost to employees
• Providing handwashing facilities or appropriate alternatives where required
• Following appropriate housekeeping and regulated-waste procedures
• Making hepatitis B vaccination available to eligible employees as required
• Providing post-exposure evaluation and follow-up after an exposure incident
• Providing required employee training
• Maintaining applicable records

OSHA emphasizes eliminating or minimizing exposure through engineering and work practice controls. When occupational exposure remains after those controls are implemented, appropriate PPE must also be used.

Training is another important component of the standard. Employees with occupational exposure must receive information and training at the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may occur and at least annually thereafter, along with additional training when certain changes affect occupational exposure.

For a deeper explanation of employer and employee obligations, review our guide to bloodborne pathogens training requirements .

Find Bloodborne Pathogen Training With 360training

Understanding bloodborne pathogen risks is important, but workers also need to know how to apply safe practices to the hazards they may encounter on the job.

360training offers online bloodborne pathogen courses designed for different workplace environments. Courses are online and self-paced, making it easier for employees to complete training around their schedules.

Choose the training that fits your workplace:

• Bloodborne pathogens training for general industry is designed for workers outside healthcare settings who may encounter blood or OPIM as part of their job duties.
• Bloodborne pathogens training for multiple industries provides training applicable across a range of occupational settings.
• Bloodborne pathogens training for healthcare focuses on workers who may encounter bloodborne pathogen hazards in healthcare environments.

Explore your options and find the bloodborne pathogens training that best fits your workplace and occupational exposure risks.