Regulations on Bloodborne Pathogens, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1030

These OSHA regulations, effective as of 1992, provide guidelines for required workplace policies and procedures for protecting employees from bloodborne pathogens, including universal precautions that must be taken to prevent contact with blood or any other infectious materials. As the guidelines state, universal precautions is an approach in which all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens. Thus, it is not necessary to know the HIV status of any particular employee in order protect employees from possible exposure to pathogens in the workplace. The guidelines also discuss methods of compliance in HIV and HBV research laboratories and production facilities, HBV vaccination and post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, communication of hazards to employees, and record-keeping.