Which employees are covered by OSHAs Bloodborne Pathogen Standard?
Employees having “reasonably anticipated” exposure to blood or OPIM through skin, eye, mucous membrane, or broken skin by: (needlesticks, human bites, cuts, abrasions) that result from the performance of an employee’s job duties. The hazard of exposure to bloodborne pathogens affects employees in many types of employment and is not restricted to the healthcare or emergency service industry. What is the definition of blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)? Blood means human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood. “Other potentially infectious materials” means the following: • Human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal (head ), amniotic (birth fluid), peritoneal (abdomen), pericardial (heart), pleural (lung, chest), synovial (joints), saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids. • Any unfix
