Occupations Affected by Bloodborne Infectious Diseases

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.

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic Page: Body Art
NIOSH topic page on protection for tattooists and piercers at risk for coming into contact with their client’s blood.

Correctional Health
CDC topic page on resources, recommendations, and guidance for correctional facility workers.

Read, Wear, and Report
NIOSH poster on how frontline health care workers can protect themselves from exposures to bloodborne diseases.

Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure
NIOSH poster on what healthcare workers should do if they are exposed to bloodborne pathogens while on the job.

Protect Your Employees with an Exposure Control Plan
A NIOSH brochure on tips for improving your exposure control plan.

Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
A NIOSH brochure on the vital role of reporting exposures to bloodborne pathogens.

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009
A notification to emergency response employees who may have been exposed by victims of emergencies to potentially life-threatening infectious diseases.

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)
A NIOSH brochure on tips for improving your bloodborne pathogen exposure control plan.

Informational Poster on Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
NIOSH poster on first responder protection against bloodborne pathogens.

Visual Poster on Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
NIOSH poster on how frontline health care workers can protect themselves from exposures to bloodborne diseases.

Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
A NIOSH brochure on the vital role of reporting exposures to bloodborne pathogens.

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic Page: Emergency Medical Services Workers
NIOSH topic page on the job hazards that emergency medical services workers face.

Protecting Healthcare Personnel
CDC Healthcare-associated Infections topic page promoting patient safety and a safe healthcare work environment through improved use of personal protective equipment by healthcare personnel.

UVA International Healthcare Worker Safety Centerexternal icon
This link is no longer being updated, only for historical purposes

NIOSH Fast Facts: Home Healthcare Workerspdf icon
A NOISH factsheet on how to prevent needlestick and sharps injuries.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – Healthcareexternal icon
OSHA Safety and Health Topics web page on the hazards of healthcare.

The Joint Commission – Improving Patient and Worker Safetyexternal icon
A Joint Commission topic library item on improving patient and worker safety and opportunities for synergy, collaboration, and innovation.

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Healthcare Settings?
This Alert provides current scientific information about the risk of needlestick injury and the transmission of bloodborne pathogens to health care workers.

Infection Control in Dental Settings
CDC’s Oral Health topic page on infection prevention and control in dental settings.

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

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic Page: Health Care Workers
NIOSH Healthcare Workers web page providing resources on biological and chemical hazards, and surveillance and statistics.

Safe Community Needle Disposal
NIOSH Bloodborne Infectious Diseases topic page link for safe community needle disposal.

Page last reviewed: September 30, 2016

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Occupations Affected by Bloodborne Infectious Diseases

Occupations Affected by Bloodborne Infectious Diseases

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