BLOODBORNE INFECTIOUS DISEASES: HIV/AIDS,
HEPATITIS B, HEPATITIS C

Occupations Affected by Bloodborne Infectious Diseases

Below are links to webpages or publications for selected occupations where the workers could be exposed to blood or other body fluids. This is not a comprehensive list of occupations where the employees may have occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “occupational exposure means reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties.” Occupational exposure can occur among a variety of occupations.

Health Care Workers

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic Page: Health Care Workers

International Health Care Worker Safety Center
The University of Virginia's International Health Care Worker Safety Center is dedicated to identifying effective measures for reducing occupational exposures to and transmission of bloodborne pathogens to health care workers worldwide.

NIOSH Fast Facts: Home Healthcare Workers, How to Prevent Needlestick and Sharps Injuries
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2012-123 (February 2012)

Correctional Health Care Workers

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic Page: Correctional Health Care Workers

Read, Wear, and Report
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-156 (September 2007)

Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-157 (September 2007)

Protect Your Employees with an Exposure Control Plan
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-158 (September 2007)

Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-159 (September 2007)

Dental Workers

Infection Control in Dental Settings
Including fact sheets, FAQ's, Publications, and Guidelines from CDC.

OSHA: Safety and Health Topics for Dentistry
Includes information on hazard identification, compliance, and more.

First Responders

Preventing Exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens among Paramedics
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-139 (April 2010)
En Español
This publication contains information from a national survey of paramedics which contributes new information about their risk of exposure to blood and identifies opportunities to control exposures and prevent infections.

First Responders: Protect Your Employees with an Exposure Control Plan
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008-115 (July 2008)
This page contains pdf versions of two posters and two brochures from NIOSH intended to help first responders and their management prevent work-related exposures to bloodborne pathogens.

Informational Poster on Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008-116 (July 2008)

Visual Poster on Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008-117 (July 2008)

Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008-118 (July 2008)

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic Page: Emergency Medical Services Workers

Body Art

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic Page: Body Art