Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (General Industry)

Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
rays will continue to be given at least annually. The examination contents are minimum requirements; additional tests such as
lateral and oblique x-rays or additional pulmonary function tests may be performed if
deemed necessary.
B. Pulmonary function tests.
Pulmonary function tests should be performed in a manner which minimizes subject
and operator bias. There has been shown to
be learning effects with regard to the results
obtained from certain tests, such as FEV 1.0.
Best results can be obtained by multiple
trials for each subject. The best of three
trials or the average of the last three of five
trials may be used in obtaining reliable results. The type of equipment used (manufacturer, model, etc.) should be recorded with
the results as reliability and accuracy varies
and such information may be important in
the evaluation of test results. Care should be
exercised to obtain the best possible testing
equipment.
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, 41 FR 46784, Oct.
22, 1976, as amended at 42 FR 3304, Jan. 18,
1977; 45 FR 35283, May 23, 1980; 50 FR 37353,
37354, Sept. 13, 1985; 54 FR 24334, June 7, 1989;
61 FR 5508, Feb. 13, 1996; 63 FR 1290, Jan. 8,
1998; 63 FR 33468, June 18, 1998; 70 FR 1142,
Jan. 5, 2005; 71 FR 16672, 16673, Apr. 3, 2006]

§ 1910.1030 Bloodborne pathogens.
(a) Scope and Application. This section
applies to all occupational exposure to
blood or other potentially infectious
materials as defined by paragraph (b)
of this section.
(b) Definitions. For purposes of this
section, the following shall apply:
Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, or designated
representative.
Blood means human blood, human
blood components, and products made
from human blood.
Bloodborne Pathogens means pathogenic microorganisms that are present
in human blood and can cause disease
in humans. These pathogens include,
but are not limited to, hepatitis B
virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Clinical Laboratory means a workplace where diagnostic or other screening procedures are performed on blood
or other potentially infectious materials.
Contaminated means the presence or
the reasonably anticipated presence of
blood or other potentially infectious
materials on an item or surface.

§ 1910.1030

Contaminated Laundry means laundry
which has been soiled with blood or
other potentially infectious materials
or may contain sharps.
Contaminated Sharps means any contaminated object that can penetrate
the skin including, but not limited to,
needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken
capillary tubes, and exposed ends of
dental wires.
Decontamination means the use of
physical or chemical means to remove,
inactivate, or destroy bloodborne
pathogens on a surface or item to the
point where they are no longer capable
of transmitting infectious particles and
the surface or item is rendered safe for
handling, use, or disposal.
Director means the Director of the
National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, or designated representative.
Engineering controls means controls
(e.g., sharps disposal containers, selfsheathing needles, safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered
sharps
injury
protections
and
needleless systems) that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard
from the workplace.
Exposure Incident means a specific
eye, mouth, other mucous membrane,
non-intact skin, or parenteral contact
with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the
performance of an employee’s duties.
Handwashing Facilities means a facility providing an adequate supply of
running potable water, soap and single
use towels or hot air drying machines.
Licensed Healthcare Professional is a
person whose legally permitted scope
of practice allows him or her to independently perform the activities required by paragraph (f) Hepatitis B
Vaccination and Post-exposure Evaluation and Follow-up.
HBV means hepatitis B virus.
HIV means human immunodeficiency
virus.
Needleless systems means a device that
does not use needles for:
(1) The collection of bodily fluids or
withdrawal of body fluids after initial
venous or arterial access is established;
(2) The administration of medication
or fluids; or

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§ 1910.1030

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

(3) Any other procedure involving the
potential for occupational exposure to
bloodborne
pathogens
due
to
percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps.
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.
Other Potentially Infectious Materials
means
(1) The following human body fluids:
semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural
fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid,
amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly
contaminated with blood, and all body
fluids in situations where it is difficult
or impossible to differentiate between
body fluids;
(2) Any unfixed tissue or organ (other
than intact skin) from a human (living
or dead); and
(3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV- or
HBV-containing culture medium or
other solutions; and blood, organs, or
other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV.
Parenteral means piercing mucous
membranes or the skin barrier through
such events as needlesticks, human
bites, cuts, and abrasions.
Personal Protective Equipment is specialized clothing or equipment worn by
an employee for protection against a
hazard. General work clothes (e.g., uniforms, pants, shirts or blouses) not intended to function as protection
against a hazard are not considered to
be personal protective equipment.
Production Facility means a facility
engaged in industrial-scale, large-volume or high concentration production
of HIV or HBV.
Regulated Waste means liquid or
semi-liquid blood or other potentially
infectious materials; contaminated
items that would release blood or other
potentially infectious materials in a
liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with
dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and patho-

logical and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Research Laboratory means a laboratory producing or using research-laboratory-scale amounts of HIV or HBV.
Research laboratories may produce
high concentrations of HIV or HBV but
not in the volume found in production
facilities.
Sharps with engineered sharps injury
protections means a nonneedle sharp or
a needle device used for withdrawing
body fluids, accessing a vein or artery,
or administering medications or other
fluids, with a built-in safety feature or
mechanism that effectively reduces the
risk of an exposure incident.
Source Individual means any individual, living or dead, whose blood or
other potentially infectious materials
may be a source of occupational exposure to the employee. Examples include, but are not limited to, hospital
and clinic patients; clients in institutions for the developmentally disabled;
trauma victims; clients of drug and alcohol treatment facilities; residents of
hospices and nursing homes; human remains; and individuals who donate or
sell blood or blood components.
Sterilize means the use of a physical
or chemical procedure to destroy all
microbial life including highly resistant bacterial endospores.
Universal Precautions is an approach
to infection control. According to the
concept of Universal Precautions, all
human blood and certain human body
fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other
bloodborne pathogens.
Work Practice Controls means controls
that reduce the likelihood of exposure
by altering the manner in which a task
is performed (e.g., prohibiting recapping of needles by a two-handed technique).
(c) Exposure control—(1) Exposure Control Plan. (i) Each employer having an
employee(s) with occupational exposure as defined by paragraph (b) of this
section shall establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure.
(ii) The Exposure Control Plan shall
contain at least the following elements:

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(A) The exposure determination required by paragraph(c)(2),
(B) The schedule and method of implementation for paragraphs (d) Methods of Compliance, (e) HIV and HBV
Research Laboratories and Production
Facilities, (f) Hepatitis B Vaccination
and Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up, (g) Communication of Hazards
to Employees, and (h) Recordkeeping,
of this standard, and
(C) The procedure for the evaluation
of circumstances surrounding exposure
incidents as required by paragraph
(f)(3)(i) of this standard.
(iii) Each employer shall ensure that
a copy of the Exposure Control Plan is
accessible to employees in accordance
with 29 CFR 1910.20(e).
(iv) The Exposure Control Plan shall
be reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary to reflect
new or modified tasks and procedures
which affect occupational exposure and
to reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure.
The review and update of such plans
shall also:
(A) Reflect changes in technology
that eliminate or reduce exposure to
bloodborne pathogens; and
(B) Document annually consideration
and implementation of appropriate
commercially available and effective
safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure.
(v) An employer, who is required to
establish an Exposure Control Plan
shall solicit input from non-managerial
employees responsible for direct patient care who are potentially exposed
to injuries from contaminated sharps
in the identification, evaluation, and
selection of effective engineering and
work practice controls and shall document the solicitation in the Exposure
Control Plan.
(vi) The Exposure Control Plan shall
be made available to the Assistant Secretary and the Director upon request
for examination and copying.
(2) Exposure determination. (i) Each
employer who has an employee(s) with
occupational exposure as defined by
paragraph (b) of this section shall prepare an exposure determination. This
exposure determination shall contain
the following:

§ 1910.1030

(A) A list of all job classifications in
which all employees in those job classifications have occupational exposure;
(B) A list of job classifications in
which some employees have occupational exposure, and
(C) A list of all tasks and procedures
or groups of closely related task and
procedures in which occupational exposure occurs and that are performed by
employees in job classifications listed
in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B) of this standard.
(ii) This exposure determination
shall be made without regard to the
use of personal protective equipment.
(d) Methods of compliance—(1) General.
Universal precautions shall be observed
to prevent contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials. Under
circumstances in which differentiation
between body fluid types is difficult or
impossible, all body fluids shall be considered potentially infectious materials.
(2) Engineering and work practice controls. (i) Engineering and work practice
controls shall be used to eliminate or
minimize employee exposure. Where
occupational exposure remains after
institution of these controls, personal
protective equipment shall also be
used.
(ii) Engineering controls shall be examined and maintained or replaced on
a regular schedule to ensure their effectiveness.
(iii)
Employers
shall
provide
handwashing facilities which are readily accessible to employees.
(iv) When provision of handwashing
facilities is not feasible, the employer
shall provide either an appropriate antiseptic hand cleanser in conjunction
with clean cloth/paper towels or antiseptic towelettes. When antiseptic
hand cleansers or towelettes are used,
hands shall be washed with soap and
running water as soon as feasible.
(v) Employers shall ensure that employees wash their hands immediately
or as soon as feasible after removal of
gloves or other personal protective
equipment.
(vi) Employers shall ensure that employees wash hands and any other skin
with soap and water, or flush mucous
membranes with water immediately or
as soon as feasible following contact of

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§ 1910.1030

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

such body areas with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
(vii) Contaminated needles and other
contaminated sharps shall not be bent,
recapped, or removed except as noted
in
paragraphs
(d)(2)(vii)(A)
and
(d)(2)(vii)(B) below. Shearing or breaking of contaminated needles is prohibited.
(A) Contaminated needles and other
contaminated sharps shall not be bent,
recapped or removed unless the employer can demonstrate that no alternative is feasible or that such action is
required by a specific medical or dental
procedure.
(B) Such bending, recapping or needle
removal must be accomplished through
the use of a mechanical device or a
one-handed technique.
(viii) Immediately or as soon as possible after use, contaminated reusable
sharps shall be placed in appropriate
containers until properly reprocessed.
These containers shall be:
(A) Puncture resistant;
(B) Labeled or color-coded in accordance with this standard;
(C) Leakproof on the sides and bottom; and
(D) In accordance with the requirements
set
forth
in
paragraph
(d)(4)(ii)(E) for reusable sharps.
(ix) Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in
work areas where there is a reasonable
likelihood of occupational exposure.
(x) Food and drink shall not be kept
in refrigerators, freezers, shelves, cabinets or on countertops or benchtops
where blood or other potentially infectious materials are present.
(xi) All procedures involving blood or
other potentially infectious materials
shall be performed in such a manner as
to minimize splashing, spraying, spattering, and generation of droplets of
these substances.
(xii) Mouth pipetting/suctioning of
blood or other potentially infectious
materials is prohibited.
(xiii) Specimens of blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be
placed in a container which prevents
leakage during collection, handling,
processing, storage, transport, or shipping.

(A) The container for storage, transport, or shipping shall be labeled or
color-coded according to paragraph
(g)(1)(i) and closed prior to being
stored, transported, or shipped. When a
facility utilizes Universal Precautions
in the handling of all specimens, the
labeling/color-coding of specimens is
not necessary provided containers are
recognizable as containing specimens.
This exemption only applies while such
specimens/containers remain within
the facility. Labeling or color-coding
in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i)
is required when such specimens/containers leave the facility.
(B) If outside contamination of the
primary container occurs, the primary
container shall be placed within a second container which prevents leakage
during handling, processing, storage,
transport, or shipping and is labeled or
color-coded according to the requirements of this standard.
(C) If the specimen could puncture
the primary container, the primary
container shall be placed within a secondary container which is puncture-resistant in addition to the above characteristics.
(xiv) Equipment which may become
contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be
examined prior to servicing or shipping
and shall be decontaminated as necessary, unless the employer can demonstrate that decontamination of such
equipment or portions of such equipment is not feasible.
(A) A readily observable label in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i)(H)
shall be attached to the equipment
stating which portions remain contaminated.
(B) The employer shall ensure that
this information is conveyed to all affected employees, the servicing representative, and/or the manufacturer,
as appropriate, prior to handling, servicing, or shipping so that appropriate
precautions will be taken.
(3) Personal protective equipment—(i)
Provision. When there is occupational
exposure, the employer shall provide,
at no cost to the employee, appropriate
personal protective equipment such as,
but not limited to, gloves, gowns, laboratory coats, face shields or masks
and eye protection, and mouthpieces,

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
resuscitation bags, pocket masks, or
other ventilation devices. Personal
protective equipment will be considered ‘‘appropriate’’ only if it does not
permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through to or
reach the employee’s work clothes,
street clothes, undergarments, skin,
eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use
and for the duration of time which the
protective equipment will be used.
(ii) Use. The employer shall ensure
that the employee uses appropriate
personal protective equipment unless
the employer shows that the employee
temporarily and briefly declined to use
personal protective equipment when,
under rare and extraordinary circumstances, it was the employee’s professional judgment that in the specific
instance its use would have prevented
the delivery of health care or public
safety services or would have posed an
increased hazard to the safety of the
worker or co-worker. When the employee makes this judgement, the circumstances shall be investigated and
documented in order to determine
whether changes can be instituted to
prevent such occurences in the future.
(iii) Accessibility. The employer shall
ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment in the appropriate
sizes is readily accessible at the worksite or is issued to employees.
Hypoallergenic gloves, glove liners,
powderless gloves, or other similar alternatives shall be readily accessible to
those employees who are allergic to the
gloves normally provided.
(iv) Cleaning, Laundering, and Disposal. The employer shall clean, launder, and dispose of personal protective
equipment required by paragraphs (d)
and (e) of this standard, at no cost to
the employee.
(v) Repair and Replacement. The employer shall repair or replace personal
protective equipment as needed to
maintain its effectiveness, at no cost
to the employee.
(vi) If a garment(s) is penetrated by
blood or other potentially infectious
materials, the garment(s) shall be removed immediately or as soon as feasible.

§ 1910.1030

(vii) All personal protective equipment shall be removed prior to leaving
the work area.
(viii) When personal protective equipment is removed it shall be placed in
an appropriately designated area or
container for storage, washing, decontamination or disposal.
(ix) Gloves. Gloves shall be worn when
it can be reasonably anticipated that
the employee may have hand contact
with blood, other potentially infectious
materials, mucous membranes, and
non-intact skin; when performing vascular access procedures except as specified in paragraph (d)(3)(ix)(D); and
when handling or touching contaminated items or surfaces.
(A) Disposable (single use) gloves
such as surgical or examination gloves,
shall be replaced as soon as practical
when contaminated or as soon as feasible if they are torn, punctured, or
when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.
(B) Disposable (single use) gloves
shall not be washed or decontaminated
for re-use.
(C) Utility gloves may be decontaminated for re-use if the integrity of the
glove is not compromised. However,
they must be discarded if they are
cracked, peeling, torn, punctured, or
exhibit other signs of deterioration or
when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.
(D) If an employer in a volunteer
blood donation center judges that routine gloving for all phlebotomies is not
necessary then the employer shall:
(1) Periodically reevaluate this policy;
(2) Make gloves available to all employees who wish to use them for phlebotomy;
(3) Not discourage the use of gloves
for phlebotomy; and
(4) Require that gloves be used for
phlebotomy in the following circumstances:
(i) When the employee has cuts,
scratches, or other breaks in his or her
skin;
(ii) When the employee judges that
hand contamination with blood may
occur, for example, when performing
phlebotomy
on
an
uncooperative
source individual; and

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§ 1910.1030

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

(iii) When the employee is receiving
training in phlebotomy.
(x) Masks, Eye Protection, and Face
Shields. Masks in combination with eye
protection devices, such as goggles or
glasses with solid side shields, or chinlength face shields, shall be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials may be generated and
eye, nose, or mouth contamination can
be reasonably anticipated.
(xi) Gowns, Aprons, and Other Protective Body Clothing. Appropriate protective clothing such as, but not limited
to, gowns, aprons, lab coats, clinic
jackets, or similar outer garments
shall be worn in occupational exposure
situations. The type and characteristics will depend upon the task and degree of exposure anticipated.
(xii) Surgical caps or hoods and/or
shoe covers or boots shall be worn in
instances when gross contamination
can reasonably be anticipated (e.g., autopsies, orthopaedic surgery).
(4) Housekeeping—(i) General. Employers shall ensure that the worksite is
maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition. The employer shall determine and implement an appropriate
written schedule for cleaning and
method of decontamination based upon
the location within the facility, type of
surface to be cleaned, type of soil
present, and tasks or procedures being
performed in the area.
(ii) All equipment and environmental
and working surfaces shall be cleaned
and decontaminated after contact with
blood or other potentially infectious
materials.
(A) Contaminated work surfaces shall
be decontaminated with an appropriate
disinfectant after completion of procedures; immediately or as soon as feasible when surfaces are overtly contaminated or after any spill of blood or
other potentially infectious materials;
and at the end of the work shift if the
surface may have become contaminated since the last cleaning.
(B) Protective coverings, such as
plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or imperviously-backed absorbent paper used to
cover equipment and environmental
surfaces, shall be removed and replaced
as soon as feasible when they become
overtly contaminated or at the end of

the workshift if they may have become
contaminated during the shift.
(C) All bins, pails, cans, and similar
receptacles intended for reuse which
have a reasonable likelihood for becoming contaminated with blood or
other potentially infectious materials
shall be inspected and decontaminated
on a regularly scheduled basis and
cleaned and decontaminated immediately or as soon as feasible upon visible contamination.
(D) Broken glassware which may be
contaminated shall not be picked up
directly with the hands. It shall be
cleaned up using mechanical means,
such as a brush and dust pan, tongs, or
forceps.
(E) Reusable sharps that are contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials shall not be
stored or processed in a manner that
requires employees to reach by hand
into the containers where these sharps
have been placed.
(iii) Regulated Waste—(A) Contaminated Sharps Discarding and Containment. (1) Contaminated sharps shall be
discarded immediately or as soon as
feasible in containers that are:
(i) Closable;
(ii) Puncture resistant;
(iii) Leakproof on sides and bottom;
and
(iv) Labeled or color-coded in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this
standard.
(2) During use, containers for contaminated sharps shall be:
(i) Easily accessible to personnel and
located as close as is feasible to the immediate area where sharps are used or
can be reasonably anticipated to be
found (e.g., laundries);
(ii) Maintained upright throughout
use; and
(iii) Replaced routinely and not be allowed to overfill.
(3) When moving containers of contaminated sharps from the area of use,
the containers shall be:
(i) Closed immediately prior to removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during
handling, storage, transport, or shipping;
(ii) Placed in a secondary container if
leakage is possible. The second container shall be:

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(A) Closable;
(B) Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;
and
(C) Labeled or color-coded according
to paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this standard.
(4) Reusable containers shall not be
opened, emptied, or cleaned manually
or in any other manner which would
expose employees to the risk of
percutaneous injury.
(B) Other Regulated Waste Containment—(1) Regulated waste shall be
placed in containers which are:
(i) Closable;
(ii) Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or
shipping;
(iii) Labeled or color-coded in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i) this
standard; and
(iv) Closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents
during handling, storage, transport, or
shipping.
(2) If outside contamination of the
regulated waste container occurs, it
shall be placed in a second container.
The second container shall be:
(i) Closable;
(ii) Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or
shipping;
(iii) Labeled or color-coded in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this
standard; and
(iv) Closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents
during handling, storage, transport, or
shipping.
(C) Disposal of all regulated waste
shall be in accordance with applicable
regulations of the United States,
States and Territories, and political
subdivisions of States and Territories.
(iv) Laundry. (A) Contaminated laundry shall be handled as little as possible with a minimum of agitation. (1)
Contaminated laundry shall be bagged
or containerized at the location where
it was used and shall not be sorted or
rinsed in the location of use.
(2) Contaminated laundry shall be
placed and transported in bags or containers labeled or color-coded in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i) of

§ 1910.1030

this standard. When a facility utilizes
Universal Precautions in the handling
of all soiled laundry, alternative labeling or color-coding is sufficient if it
permits all employees to recognize the
containers as requiring compliance
with Universal Precautions.
(3) Whenever contaminated laundry
is wet and presents a reasonable likelihood of soak-through of or leakage
from the bag or container, the laundry
shall be placed and transported in bags
or containers which prevent soakthrough and/or leakage of fluids to the
exterior.
(B) The employer shall ensure that
employees who have contact with contaminated laundry wear protective
gloves and other appropriate personal
protective equipment.
(C) When a facility ships contaminated laundry off-site to a second facility which does not utilize Universal
Precautions in the handling of all laundry, the facility generating the contaminated laundry must place such
laundry in bags or containers which
are labeled or color-coded in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i).
(e) HIV and HBV Research Laboratories and Production Facilities. (1) This
paragraph applies to research laboratories and production facilities engaged in the culture, production, concentration, experimentation, and manipulation of HIV and HBV. It does not
apply to clinical or diagnostic laboratories engaged solely in the analysis of
blood, tissues, or organs. These requirements apply in addition to the
other requirements of the standard.
(2) Research laboratories and production facilities shall meet the following
criteria:
(i) Standard microbiological practices.
All regulated waste shall either be incinerated or decontaminated by a
method such as autoclaving known to
effectively destroy bloodborne pathogens.
(ii) Special practices. (A) Laboratory
doors shall be kept closed when work
involving HIV or HBV is in progress.
(B) Contaminated materials that are
to be decontaminated at a site away
from the work area shall be placed in a
durable, leakproof, labeled or colorcoded container that is closed before
being removed from the work area.

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§ 1910.1030

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

(C) Access to the work area shall be
limited to authorized persons. Written
policies and procedures shall be established whereby only persons who have
been advised of the potential biohazard, who meet any specific entry requirements, and who comply with all
entry and exit procedures shall be allowed to enter the work areas and animal rooms.
(D) When other potentially infectious
materials or infected animals are
present in the work area or containment module, a hazard warning sign incorporating the universal biohazard
symbol shall be posted on all access
doors. The hazard warning sign shall
comply with paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this
standard.
(E) All activities involving other potentially infectious materials shall be
conducted in biological safety cabinets
or other physical-containment devices
within the containment module. No
work with these other potentially infectious materials shall be conducted
on the open bench.
(F) Laboratory coats, gowns, smocks,
uniforms, or other appropriate protective clothing shall be used in the work
area and animal rooms. Protective
clothing shall not be worn outside of
the work area and shall be decontaminated before being laundered.
(G) Special care shall be taken to
avoid skin contact with other potentially infectious materials. Gloves
shall be worn when handling infected
animals and when making hand contact with other potentially infectious
materials is unavoidable.
(H) Before disposal all waste from
work areas and from animal rooms
shall either be incinerated or decontaminated by a method such as
autoclaving known to effectively destroy bloodborne pathogens.
(I) Vacuum lines shall be protected
with liquid disinfectant traps and highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters or filters of equivalent or superior
efficiency and which are checked routinely and maintained or replaced as
necessary.
(J) Hypodermic needles and syringes
shall be used only for parenteral injection and aspiration of fluids from laboratory animals and diaphragm bottles. Only needle-locking syringes or

disposable syringe-needle units (i.e.,
the needle is integral to the syringe)
shall be used for the injection or aspiration of other potentially infectious
materials. Extreme caution shall be
used when handling needles and syringes. A needle shall not be bent,
sheared, replaced in the sheath or
guard, or removed from the syringe following use. The needle and syringe
shall be promptly placed in a punctureresistant container and autoclaved or
decontaminated before reuse or disposal.
(K) All spills shall be immediately
contained and cleaned up by appropriate professional staff or others properly trained and equipped to work with
potentially concentrated infectious
materials.
(L) A spill or accident that results in
an exposure incident shall be immediately reported to the laboratory director or other responsible person.
(M) A biosafety manual shall be prepared or adopted and periodically reviewed and updated at least annually
or more often if necessary. Personnel
shall be advised of potential hazards,
shall be required to read instructions
on practices and procedures, and shall
be required to follow them.
(iii) Containment equipment. (A) Certified biological safety cabinets (Class
I, II, or III) or other appropriate combinations of personal protection or
physical containment devices, such as
special protective clothing, respirators,
centrifuge safety cups, sealed centrifuge rotors, and containment caging
for animals, shall be used for all activities with other potentially infectious
materials that pose a threat of exposure to droplets, splashes, spills, or
aerosols.
(B) Biological safety cabinets shall
be certified when installed, whenever
they are moved and at least annually.
(3) HIV and HBV research laboratories shall meet the following criteria:
(i) Each laboratory shall contain a
facility for hand washing and an eye
wash facility which is readily available
within the work area.
(ii) An autoclave for decontamination of regulated waste shall be available.
(4) HIV and HBV production facilities
shall meet the following criteria:

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(i) The work areas shall be separated
from areas that are open to unrestricted traffic flow within the building. Passage through two sets of doors
shall be the basic requirement for
entry into the work area from access
corridors or other contiguous areas.
Physical separation of the high-containment work area from access corridors or other areas or activities may
also be provided by a double-doored
clothes-change room (showers may be
included), airlock, or other access facility that requires passing through
two sets of doors before entering the
work area.
(ii) The surfaces of doors, walls,
floors and ceilings in the work area
shall be water resistant so that they
can be easily cleaned. Penetrations in
these surfaces shall be sealed or capable of being sealed to facilitate decontamination.
(iii) Each work area shall contain a
sink for washing hands and a readily
available eye wash facility. The sink
shall be foot, elbow, or automatically
operated and shall be located near the
exit door of the work area.
(iv) Access doors to the work area or
containment module shall be self-closing.
(v) An autoclave for decontamination
of regulated waste shall be available
within or as near as possible to the
work area.
(vi) A ducted exhaust-air ventilation
system shall be provided. This system
shall create directional airflow that
draws air into the work area through
the entry area. The exhaust air shall
not be recirculated to any other area of
the building, shall be discharged to the
outside, and shall be dispersed away
from occupied areas and air intakes.
The proper direction of the airflow
shall be verified (i.e., into the work
area).
(5) Training Requirements. Additional
training requirements for employees in
HIV and HBV research laboratories and
HIV and HBV production facilities are
specified in paragraph (g)(2)(ix).
(f) Hepatitis B vaccination and post-exposure evaluation and follow-up—(1)
General. (i) The employer shall make
available the hepatitis B vaccine and
vaccination series to all employees
who have occupational exposure, and

§ 1910.1030

post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
to all employees who have had an exposure incident.
(ii) The employer shall ensure that
all medical evaluations and procedures
including the hepatitis B vaccine and
vaccination series and post-exposure
evaluation and follow-up, including
prophylaxis, are:
(A) Made available at no cost to the
employee;
(B) Made available to the employee
at a reasonable time and place;
(C) Performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician or by or
under the supervision of another licensed healthcare professional; and
(D) Provided according to recommendations of the U.S. Public
Health Service current at the time
these evaluations and procedures take
place, except as specified by this paragraph (f).
(iii) The employer shall ensure that
all laboratory tests are conducted by
an accredited laboratory at no cost to
the employee.
(2) Hepatitis B Vaccination. (i) Hepatitis B vaccination shall be made available after the employee has received
the training required in paragraph
(g)(2)(vii)(I) and within 10 working days
of initial assignment to all employees
who have occupational exposure unless
the employee has previously received
the complete hepatitis B vaccination
series, antibody testing has revealed
that the employee is immune, or the
vaccine is contraindicated for medical
reasons.
(ii) The employer shall not make participation in a prescreening program a
prerequisite for receiving hepatitis B
vaccination.
(iii) If the employee initially declines
hepatitis B vaccination but at a later
date while still covered under the
standard decides to accept the vaccination, the employer shall make available hepatitis B vaccination at that
time.
(iv) The employer shall assure that
employees who decline to accept hepatitis B vaccination offered by the employer sign the statement in appendix
A.
(v) If a routine booster dose(s) of hepatitis B vaccine is recommended by the
U.S. Public Health Service at a future

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§ 1910.1030

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

date, such booster dose(s) shall be
made available in accordance with section (f)(1)(ii).
(3) Post-exposure Evaluation and Follow-up. Following a report of an exposure incident, the employer shall make
immediately available to the exposed
employee a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up, including at least
the following elements:
(i) Documentation of the route(s) of
exposure, and the circumstances under
which the exposure incident occurred;
(ii) Identification and documentation
of the source individual, unless the employer can establish that identification
is infeasible or prohibited by state or
local law;
(A) The source individual’s blood
shall be tested as soon as feasible and
after consent is obtained in order to determine HBV and HIV infectivity. If
consent is not obtained, the employer
shall establish that legally required
consent cannot be obtained. When the
source individual’s consent is not required by law, the source individual’s
blood, if available, shall be tested and
the results documented.
(B) When the source individual is already known to be infected with HBV
or HIV, testing for the source individual’s known HBV or HIV status need
not be repeated.
(C) Results of the source individual’s
testing shall be made available to the
exposed employee, and the employee
shall be informed of applicable laws
and regulations concerning disclosure
of the identity and infectious status of
the source individual.
(iii) Collection and testing of blood
for HBV and HIV serological status;
(A) The exposed employee’s blood
shall be collected as soon as feasible
and tested after consent is obtained.
(B) If the employee consents to baseline blood collection, but does not give
consent at that time for HIV serologic
testing, the sample shall be preserved
for at least 90 days. If, within 90 days of
the exposure incident, the employee
elects to have the baseline sample tested, such testing shall be done as soon
as feasible.
(iv) Post-exposure prophylaxis, when
medically indicated, as recommended
by the U.S. Public Health Service;
(v) Counseling; and

(vi) Evaluation of reported illnesses.
(4) Information Provided to the
Healthcare Professional. (i) The employer shall ensure that the healthcare
professional responsible for the employee’s Hepatitis B vaccination is provided a copy of this regulation.
(ii) The employer shall ensure that
the healthcare professional evaluating
an employee after an exposure incident
is provided the following information:
(A) A copy of this regulation;
(B) A description of the exposed employee’s duties as they relate to the exposure incident;
(C) Documentation of the route(s) of
exposure and circumstances under
which exposure occurred;
(D) Results of the source individual’s
blood testing, if available; and
(E) All medical records relevant to
the appropriate treatment of the employee including vaccination status
which are the employer’s responsibility
to maintain.
(5) Healthcare Professional’s Written
Opinion. The employer shall obtain and
provide the employee with a copy of
the evaluating healthcare professional’s written opinion within 15 days
of the completion of the evaluation.
(i) The healthcare professional’s written opinion for Hepatitis B vaccination
shall be limited to whether Hepatitis B
vaccination is indicated for an employee, and if the employee has received such vaccination.
(ii) The healthcare professional’s
written opinion for post-exposure evaluation and follow-up shall be limited to
the following information:
(A) That the employee has been informed of the results of the evaluation;
and
(B) That the employee has been told
about any medical conditions resulting
from exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials which require further evaluation or treatment.
(iii) All other findings or diagnoses
shall remain confidential and shall not
be included in the written report.
(6) Medical recordkeeping. Medical
records required by this standard shall
be maintained in accordance with paragraph (h)(1) of this section.
(g) Communication of hazards to employees—(1) Labels and signs—(i) Labels.
(A) Warning labels shall be affixed to

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
containers of regulated waste, refrigerators and freezers containing blood
or other potentially infectious material; and other containers used to
store, transport or ship blood or other
potentially infectious materials, except
as
provided
in
paragraph
(g)(1)(i)(E), (F) and (G).
(B) Labels required by this section
shall include the following legend:

§ 1910.1030

HBV Research Laboratory and Production Facilities, which shall bear the
following legend:

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EC28OC91.018

(C) These labels shall be fluorescent
orange or orange-red or predominantly
so, with lettering and symbols in a contrasting color.
(D) Labels shall be affixed as close as
feasible to the container by string,
wire, adhesive, or other method that
prevents their loss or unintentional removal.
(E) Red bags or red containers may
be substituted for labels.
(F) Containers of blood, blood components, or blood products that are labeled as to their contents and have
been released for transfusion or other
clinical use are exempted from the labeling requirements of paragraph (g).
(G) Individual containers of blood or
other potentially infectious materials
that are placed in a labeled container
during storage, transport, shipment or
disposal are exempted from the labeling requirement.
(H) Labels required for contaminated
equipment shall be in accordance with
this paragraph and shall also state
which portions of the equipment remain contaminated.
(I) Regulated waste that has been decontaminated need not be labeled or
color-coded.
(ii) Signs. (A) The employer shall post
signs at the entrance to work areas
specified in paragraph (e), HIV and

(B) These signs shall be fluorescent
orange-red or predominantly so, with
lettering and symbols in a contrasting
color.
(2) Information and Training. (i) Employers shall ensure that all employees
with occupational exposure participate
in a training program which must be
provided at no cost to the employee
and during working hours.
(ii) Training shall be provided as follows:
(A) At the time of initial assignment
to tasks where occupational exposure
may take place;
(B) At least annually thereafter.
(iii) [Reserved]
(iv) Annual training for all employees shall be provided within one year of
their previous training.
(v) Employers shall provide additional training when changes such as
modification of tasks or procedures or
institution of new tasks or procedures
affect the employee’s occupational exposure. The additional training may be
limited to addressing the new exposures created.
(vi) Material appropriate in content
and vocabulary to educational level,
literacy, and language of employees
shall be used.
(vii) The training program shall contain at a minimum the following elements:
(A) An accessible copy of the regulatory text of this standard and an explanation of its contents;

EC28OC91.019

(Name of the Infectious Agent)
(Special requirements for entering the area)
(Name, telephone number of the laboratory
director or other responsible person.)

§ 1910.1030

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

(B) A general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne
diseases;
(C) An explanation of the modes of
transmission of bloodborne pathogens;
(D) An explanation of the employer’s
exposure control plan and the means
by which the employee can obtain a
copy of the written plan;
(E) An explanation of the appropriate
methods for recognizing tasks and
other activities that may involve exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials;
(F) An explanation of the use and
limitations of methods that will prevent or reduce exposure including appropriate engineering controls, work
practices, and personal protective
equipment;
(G) Information on the types, proper
use, location, removal, handling, decontamination and disposal of personal
protective equipment;
(H) An explanation of the basis for
selection of personal protective equipment;
(I) Information on the hepatitis B
vaccine, including information on its
efficacy, safety, method of administration, the benefits of being vaccinated,
and that the vaccine and vaccination
will be offered free of charge;
(J) Information on the appropriate
actions to take and persons to contact
in an emergency involving blood or
other potentially infectious materials;
(K) An explanation of the procedure
to follow if an exposure incident occurs, including the method of reporting
the incident and the medical follow-up
that will be made available;
(L) Information on the post-exposure
evaluation and follow-up that the employer is required to provide for the
employee following an exposure incident;
(M) An explanation of the signs and
labels and/or color coding required by
paragraph (g)(1); and
(N) An opportunity for interactive
questions and answers with the person
conducting the training session.
(viii) The person conducting the
training shall be knowledgeable in the
subject matter covered by the elements
contained in the training program as it
relates to the workplace that the training will address.

(ix) Additional Initial Training for
Employees in HIV and HBV Laboratories and Production Facilities. Employees in HIV or HBV research laboratories and HIV or HBV production facilities shall receive the following initial training in addition to the above
training requirements.
(A) The employer shall assure that
employees demonstrate proficiency in
standard microbiological practices and
techniques and in the practices and operations specific to the facility before
being allowed to work with HIV or
HBV.
(B) The employer shall assure that
employees have prior experience in the
handling of human pathogens or tissue
cultures before working with HIV or
HBV.
(C) The employer shall provide a
training program to employees who
have no prior experience in handling
human pathogens. Initial work activities shall not include the handling of
infectious agents. A progression of
work activities shall be assigned as
techniques are learned and proficiency
is developed. The employer shall assure
that employees participate in work activities involving infectious agents
only after proficiency has been demonstrated.
(h)
Recordkeeping—(1)
Medical
Records. (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record
for each employee with occupational
exposure, in accordance with 29 CFR
1910.1020.
(ii) This record shall include:
(A) The name and social security
number of the employee;
(B) A copy of the employee’s hepatitis B vaccination status including the
dates of all the hepatitis B vaccinations and any medical records relative
to the employee’s ability to receive
vaccination as required by paragraph
(f)(2);
(C) A copy of all results of examinations, medical testing, and follow-up
procedures as required by paragraph
(f)(3);
(D) The employer’s copy of the
healthcare professional’s written opinion as required by paragraph (f)(5); and
(E) A copy of the information provided to the healthcare professional as

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
required by paragraphs (f)(4)(ii)(B)(C)
and (D).
(iii) Confidentiality. The employer
shall ensure that employee medical
records required by paragraph (h)(1)
are:
(A) Kept confidential; and
(B) Not disclosed or reported without
the employee’s express written consent
to any person within or outside the
workplace except as required by this
section or as may be required by law.
(iv) The employer shall maintain the
records required by paragraph (h) for at
least the duration of employment plus
30 years in accordance with 29 CFR
1910.1020.
(2) Training Records. (i) Training
records shall include the following information:
(A) The dates of the training sessions;
(B) The contents or a summary of the
training sessions;
(C) The names and qualifications of
persons conducting the training; and
(D) The names and job titles of all
persons attending the training sessions.
(ii) Training records shall be maintained for 3 years from the date on
which the training occurred.
(3) Availability. (i) The employer shall
ensure that all records required to be
maintained by this section shall be
made available upon request to the Assistant Secretary and the Director for
examination and copying.
(ii) Employee training records required by this paragraph shall be provided upon request for examination and
copying to employees, to employee representatives, to the Director, and to
the Assistant Secretary.
(iii) Employee medical records required by this paragraph shall be provided upon request for examination and
copying to the subject employee, to
anyone having written consent of the
subject employee, to the Director, and
to the Assistant Secretary in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.
(4) Transfer of Records. (i) The employer shall comply with the requirements involving transfer of records set
forth in 29 CFR 1910.1020(h).
(ii) If the employer ceases to do business and there is no successor employer
to receive and retain the records for

§ 1910.1030

the prescribed period, the employer
shall notify the Director, at least three
months prior to their disposal and
transmit them to the Director, if required by the Director to do so, within
that three month period.
(i) Dates—(1) Effective Date. The
standard shall become effective on
March 6, 1992.
(2) The Exposure Control Plan required by paragraph (c) of this section
shall be completed on or before May 5,
1992.
(3) Paragraph (g)(2) Information and
Training and (h) Recordkeeping shall
take effect on or before June 4, 1992.
(4) Paragraphs (d)(2) Engineering and
Work Practice Controls, (d)(3) Personal
Protective Equipment, (d)(4) Housekeeping, (e) HIV and HBV Research
Laboratories and Production Facilities, (f) Hepatitis B Vaccination and
Post-Exposure Evaluation and Followup, and (g) (1) Labels and Signs, shall
take effect July 6, 1992.
(5) Sharps injury log. (i) The employer
shall establish and maintain a sharps
injury log for the recording of
percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps. The information in the
sharps injury log shall be recorded and
maintained in such manner as to protect the confidentiality of the injured
employee. The sharps injury log shall
contain, at a minimum:
(A) The type and brand of device involved in the incident,
(B) The department or work area
where the exposure incident occurred,
and
(C) An explanation of how the incident occurred.
(ii) The requirement to establish and
maintain a sharps injury log shall
apply to any employer who is required
to maintain a log of occupational injuries and illnesses under 29 CFR 1904.
(iii) The sharps injury log shall be
maintained for the period required by
29 CFR 1904.6.
APPENDIX A TO SECTION 1910.1030—HEPATITIS
B VACCINE DECLINATION (MANDATORY)
I understand that due to my occupational
exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials I may be at risk of acquiring
hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. I have
been given the opportunity to be vaccinated

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§ 1910.1043

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

with hepatitis B vaccine, at no charge to myself. However, I decline hepatitis B vaccination at this time. I understand that by declining this vaccine, I continue to be at risk
of acquiring hepatitis B, a serious disease. If
in the future I continue to have occupational
exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials and I want to be vaccinated
with hepatitis B vaccine, I can receive the
vaccination series at no charge to me.
[56 FR 64175, Dec. 6, 1991, as amended at 57
FR 12717, Apr. 13, 1992; 57 FR 29206, July 1,
1992; 61 FR 5508, Feb. 13, 1996; 66 FR 5325, Jan.
18, 2001; 71 FR 16672, 16673, Apr. 3, 2006]

§ 1910.1043 Cotton dust.
(a) Scope and application. (1) This section, in its entirety, applies to the control of employee exposure to cotton
dust in all workplaces where employees
engage in yarn manufacturing, engage
in slashing and weaving operations, or
work in waste houses for textile operations.
(2) This section does not apply to the
handling or processing of woven or
knitted materials; to maritime operations covered by 29 CFR Parts 1915
and 1918; to harvesting or ginning of
cotton; or to the construction industry.
(3) Only paragraphs (h) Medical surveillance, (k)(2) through (4) Recordkeeping—Medical Records, and Appendices B, C and D of this section apply
in all work places where employees exposed to cotton dust engage in cottonseed processing or waste processing operations.
(4) This section applies to yarn manufacturing and slashing and weaving
operations exclusively using washed
cotton (as defined by paragraph (n) of
this section) only to the extent specified by paragraph (n) of this section.
(5) This section, in its entirety, applies to the control of all employees exposure to the cotton dust generated in
the preparation of washed cotton from
opening until the cotton is thoroughly
wetted.
(6) This section does not apply to
knitting, classing or warehousing operations except that employers with
these operations, if requested by
NIOSH, shall grant NIOSH access to
their employees and workplaces for exposure monitoring and medical examinations for purposes of a health study
to be performed by NIOSH on a sampling basis.

(b) Definitions. For the purpose of this
section:
Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, or designee;
Blow down means the general cleaning of a room or a part of a room by
the use of compressed air.
Blow off means the use of compressed
air for cleaning of short duration and
usually for a specific machine or any
portion of a machine.
Cotton dust means dust present in the
air during the handling or processing of
cotton, which may contain a mixture
of many substances including ground
up plant matter, fiber, bacteria, fungi,
soil, pesticides, non-cotton plant matter and other contaminants which may
have accumulated with the cotton during the growing, harvesting and subsequent processing or storage periods.
Any dust present during the handling
and processing of cotton through the
weaving or knitting of fabrics, and dust
present in other operations or manufacturing processes using raw or waste
cotton fibers or cotton fiber byproducts
from textile mills are considered cotton dust within this definition. Lubricating oil mist associated with weaving
operations is not considered cotton
dust.
Director means the Director of the
National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or designee.
Equivalent Instrument means a cotton
dust sampling device that meets the
vertical elutriator equivalency requirements as described in paragraph
(d)(1)(iii) of this section.
Lint-free respirable cotton dust means
particles of cotton dust of approximately 15 micrometers or less aerodynamic equivalent diameter;
Vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler
or vertical elutriator means a dust sampler which has a particle size cut-off at
approximately 15 micrometers aerodynamic equivalent diameter when operating at the flow rate of 7.4 ±0.2 liters
of air per minute;
Waste processing means waste recycling (sorting, blending, cleaning and
willowing) and garnetting.

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