BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

Engineering and Work Practice Controls

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Engineering controls isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogen hazards from the workplace. Examples of engineering controls include:

Puncture-resistant sharps containers

Mechanical needle recapping devices

Biosafety cabinets.

To ensure effectiveness, engineering controls must be examined and maintained or replaced on a regularly scheduled basis.

Work practice controls reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task is performed. Some examples of work practice requirements in the standard include not bending or breaking contaminated sharps and hand washing when gloves are removed and as soon as possible after contact with body fluids.