OSHA defines the term healthcare worker as paid and unpaid persons who have the potential to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
The CDC estimates that 600,000 healthcare workers sustain percutaneous injuries annually due to contaminated sharps.
When this occurs, it increases the risk of exposure to viruses or microorganisms, such as HIV, HBV, HCV, and more.
As a best practice, you should not assume that everyone is aware of bloodborne pathogens and make sure standards and policies are in place to protect the practice.
The following are requirements from the OSHA site, such as:
The list above shows the importance of training staff on OSHA guidelines and standards. As always, upon completion of training it is best to provide everyone a post-test to show they understood what was discussed in training and documented in their employee files.
**The opinions and observations from the group/author are not a promise to exempt your practice from fines and penalties. Research, modify, and tailor the advice to fit your specialty.