Satisfy OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Training Requirements

Bloodborne pathogens are bacteria and viruses that live in blood and other bodily fluids, and include things like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, malaria, and other pathogens.

Any employee with occupational exposure, which means the employee could come in contact with blood or certain other bodily fluids while performing job duties. This could happen in any industry, not just healthcare. For example, some employees in a manufacturing facility might be part of an emergency response team, and if they are expected to provide first aid to injured coworkers, they have occupational exposure.

Yes, to any employees who have occupational exposure. The standard does not specify any amount of time that must be spent in training, but does list the elements to cover during training. 

Employees must get annual refresher training, but it does not need to be as comprehensive as the initial training. In addition, if procedures change during the year in a way that affects their exposure, covered employees must be trained on those changes.

The answer depends on the type of record. Training records must be kept for at least three years. If an employee was injured by a contaminated sharp, a record of the incident must be kept for at least five years. Finally, certain employee medical records must be kept for at least the duration of employment plus 30 years.

A sharp is any object that can penetrate the skin. Most people think of needles, but broken glass and box cutter blades are also sharps. Normally, an employer can just throw broken glass in the trash. However, glass shards with blood on them are contaminated sharps. They must be handled with caution, and disposed of properly (not in the regular trash).

No, the standard applies only to employees with occupational exposure, meaning the potential for contact with blood is part of their job duties. If an employee voluntarily assists an injured coworker, that good Samaritan act is not covered by the OSHA standard.

Housekeeping workers in healthcare facilities are likely covered. In non-healthcare facilities, those workers do not automatically covered. Tasks such as cleaning toilets, emptying trash that may have soiled bandages or napkins, and cleaning vomit do not normally involve occupational exposure. The employer should still evaluate and make a determination, however.