Sterile Procedures
LESSON 1: Communicable Diseases
1-9
Section III. BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
1-9. HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT RISK
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates, approximately 5.6 million workers in health care and other facilities are at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
a. Those workers who have occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens include, but are not limited to: nurses, physicians, dentists and dental workers, laboratory and blood bank technologists and technicians, medical examiners, morticians, phlebotomists, emergency room personnel, orderlies, housekeeping personnel, laundry workers, and military medics.
b. Others also at risk include law enforcement personnel, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and anyone else whose job might require providing first-response medical care in which there is a reasonable expectation of contact with blood or OPIM.
