If you are a health professional, a designated first responder, or first aid provider in your company, or if you are involved in maintenance or housekeeping work that could potentially expose you to bloodborne pathogens, you need to know how to protect yourself from potentially infectious material.
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. Examples are hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, syphilis, and brucellosis.
Your company strives to reduce the risk of infection to employees who, in order to perform their jobs, may be reasonably anticipated to come into contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials. The risks can be reduced by following good work practices. Universal Precautions is an approach to infection control where all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if they were known to be infectious for bloodborne pathogens.
Hepatitis B is the greatest bloodborne pathogen risk. Your employer offers you the hepatitis B vaccination series when your job duties could expose you to blood or certain body fluids. If you initially refuse the vaccination, you must sign a declination form, but you can request to be vaccinated later.
