Anthony LaFaziaCEO, Atlantic Training · CEO at Atlantic Training | EdTech & Safety Compliance Leader

Your Employer’s Responsibility: What OSHA Says They Must Do to Protect You from Bloodborne Pathogens

15 Jul 2025 · 2 min

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1:45

The video (YouTube) explains employer obligations under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. It states that employers with employees who may reasonably anticipate exposure must create a written exposure control plan (accessible to all employees) that lists jobs with potential exposures and procedures, review and update it annually with documented input from non-managerial employees and market research for new engineering controls, and review work-practice controls. Employers must offer all employees a free hepatitis B vaccine within 10 days of initial assignment (no vaccines exist for hepatitis C or HIV), provide/repair/clean/replace appropriate PPE (eye protection, gloves, gowns/lab coats, face/head/foot coverings) at no cost, ensure adherence to engineering and work-practice controls and standard precautions, provide training at initial assignment, annually, and when new or modified tasks are implemented, and maintain medical and training records plus a sharps injury log.

Questions this video answers

Within 10 days of the employee's initial job assignment.

Annually.

Medical and training records, and a sharps injury log.

At initial assignment, annually thereafter, and when new or modified tasks are implemented.

Eye protection, gloves, gowns and lab coats, and face, head, and foot coverings.

Chapters

If employees have reasonably anticipated occupational exposure to blood and opims, employers must comply with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Your employer created a written exposure control plan that includes a list of jobs with potential exposures and their procedures. OSHA requires this plan to be made accessible to all employees. It must be reviewed and updated annually. Updating must document input from non managerial employees who can offer valuable frontline perspectives, research of current market availability for new engineering controls, and a review of work practice controls. All employees are offered a free hepatitis B vaccine within 10 days of their initial job assignment. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C or HIV infections. OSHA also requires employers to provide repair, clean, and replace effective PPE as necessary and at no cost to workers. PPE includes eye protection, gloves, gowns and lab coats, as well as face, head and foot coverings. Employers will ensure adherence to engineering controls, work practice controls, and standard precautions. Your employer will provide training when you are first assigned to a job, every year thereafter, and when new or modified tasks are implemented. Employers are required to maintain medical and training records and a sharps injury log SA.