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Frequently Asked Questions:
Bloodborne Pathogens


  1. Are employers responsible for providing sharps containers for employees who are diabetic and need insulin shots in a non-health care related facility?
  2. What does OSHA currently accept as “appropriate” disinfectants to prevent the spread of HIV and HBV?

Are employers responsible for providing sharps containers for employees who are diabetic and need insulin shots in a non-health care related facility?

Discarded insulin syringes create a potential for exposure for persons emptying the trash whether the insulin is administered by the diabetic himself/herself or by a health care worker and whether the disposal occurs in a health care facility or elsewhere. The employer has the responsibility for protecting custodial workers who are encountering discarded insulin syringes in the trash. This can be accomplished by including those custodial workers in the exposure control plan or by other means such as requiring insulin-using employees to discard their used syringes in special containers.

Reference Interpretation and Compliance Letters:

What does OSHA currently accept as “appropriate” disinfectants to prevent the spread of HIV and HBV?

A review of the initial intent of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard that specifically deals with the cleaning of contaminated work surfaces, i.e., 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii)(A), reveals that OSHA intended to provide a performance-based provision that would allow for future development of "appropriate disinfectant" products. OSHA has reviewed the information on the disinfectants and has reconsidered its position on EPA-registered disinfectants that are labeled as effective against HBV and HIV. OSHA's current stance is that EPA-registered disinfectants for HIV and HBV meet the requirement in the standard and are "appropriate" disinfectants to clean contaminated surfaces, provided such surfaces have not become contaminated with agent(s) or volumes of or concentrations of agent(s) for which higher level disinfection is recommended.

It is important to emphasize the EPA-approved label section titled "SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLEANING AND DECONTAMINATION AGAINST HIV-1 AND HBV Of SURFACES\OBJECTS SOILED WITH BLOOD\BODY FLUIDS." On the labels that OSHA has seen, these instructions require: 1) personal protection devices for the worker performing the task; 2) that all the blood must be cleaned thoroughly before applying the disinfectant; 3) that the disposal of the infectious waste is in accordance with federal, state, or local regulations; 4) that the disposal of the infectious waste is in accordance with federal, state, or local regulations; and 5) that the surface is left wet with the disinfectant for 30 seconds for HIV-1 and 10 minutes for HBV. OSHA would expect all such disinfectants to be used in accordance with their EPA-approved label instructions.

Reference Interpretation and Compliance Letters:

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