BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment must be used if occupational exposure remains after instituting engineering and work practice controls, or if these controls are not feasible. Personal protective equipment is specialized clothing or equipment that is worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. Employers must provide, at no cost, and require employees to use appropriate personal protective equipment such as:

Gloves

Gowns

Masks

Mouth pieces

Resuscitation devices.

The employer must clean, repair, and replace these safety items when necessary.

Personal protective equipment is effective but should not be the first option to reduce bloodborne pathogen hazards.