Bloodborne Pathogens

Anyone who gives first aid, cleans up after an injury or handles waste that may hold blood can be exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. This course teaches the general content of the training required by the US OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, for employees with occupational exposure in manufacturing and industrial settings.

You will learn what bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials are, the diseases they cause and their symptoms, and how they are transmitted. You will learn how an exposure control plan works, how to recognize tasks that may involve exposure, universal precautions, engineering and work practice controls, and how to select, use, remove and dispose of PPE. You will learn about the hepatitis B vaccine and your right to receive it free within 10 working days of assignment, what to do in an emergency involving blood, what to do in the first minutes after an exposure incident, and the confidential medical evaluation and follow-up your employer must provide. The final module covers biohazard labels and red containers, training and medical records, and your training rights. Scenarios come from metal fabrication, aerospace machining and electronics assembly.

What your employer must add. OSHA accepts online training for this standard only when it is supplemented by your employer. Under 1910.1030(g)(2)(vii)(N) you must have an opportunity for interactive questions and answers with a knowledgeable person at the time of training, for example a qualified person reachable live by phone or video while you take the course. An email or voicemail answered later does not meet the requirement. PlanetISO does not provide that person. Your employer must also explain its own exposure control plan and how to get a copy, the location of PPE and kits, and the reporting route at your site, and keep the training record. State-plan states may have additional requirements, and employers outside the US follow their own regulations.

The course is for designated first aid responders, emergency response team members, janitorial and housekeeping staff, security officers and anyone else whose job involves reasonably anticipated contact with blood. Training must be repeated at least annually.

The course closes with a 10-question examination drawn from a bank of 20. On passing you receive a PlanetISO Certificate of Completion for the online instruction, valid for 12 months to match the annual training requirement.