COURSE OVERVIEW
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria, carried in blood and other potentially infectious materials that can cause serious disease in humans. Though they may not seem like a typical workplace hazard, OSHA estimates that 5.6 million workers are exposed to them on the job each year, and the consequences can include life-altering infections like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. This course explains how these pathogens spread, who is most at risk, and the controls and procedures that keep workers safe.
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Define bloodborne pathogens
- Recognize common infections and their symptoms
- Identify bloodborne pathogens in the workplace
- Explain how bloodborne pathogens are transmitted
- Identify engineering and administrative controls used to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens
- Explain emergency response procedures in the event of exposure
COURSE TOPICS
Course topics include:
- Fundamentals of bloodborne pathogens
- Common bloodborne infections (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV)
- Identifying bloodborne pathogens in the workplace
- Transmission and exposure prevention
- At-risk populations and workplaces
- Universal precautions, housekeeping, and vaccinations
- Handling sharps and biohazardous materials
- Needlestick injuries and their prevention
- Engineering and administrative controls
- Workplace-specific exposure control plans
- Personal protective equipment
- Exposure incidents and first aid response
- Documenting exposure
ONLINE COURSE DURATION
This course is approximately 60 minutes long.
PASS MARK
The pass mark for this course is 80%. Learners can make 3 attempts to pass the course before it must be reassigned.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Upon successful completion of this course, learners will receive a certificate of completion.
ABOUT THIS OSHA TRAINING
This course is an informational and awareness-based training resource, developed and reviewed by an OSHA subject matter expert to ensure content accuracy and regulatory alignment.
However, completion of this course does not qualify as OSHA Outreach Training under the OSHA Outreach Training Program, nor does it qualify you as a Competent Person as defined under any OSHA standard.
This course is also not a substitute for site-specific training required by applicable federal, state, or local regulations, and does not provide any official certification, designation, or credential recognized by OSHA or any regulatory authority.
We encourage you to consult applicable OSHA standards and work with qualified safety professionals to ensure you fully comply with all regulatory requirements applicable to your workplace and role.
