Biological Safety

Bloodborne Pathogen Program

Workers in many different occupations are at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. At this university, researchers, building service workers, first aid responders, public safety officers, and healthcare providers are examples of workers who may be at risk of exposure to human blood, body fluids, tissues, cell lines, or other potentially infectious human materials as part of their job duties.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognized the need for a regulation that prescribed safeguards to protect workers against the health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens. Thus, the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard was published by OSHA in the Federal Register on December 6, 1991 and is codified at 29 CFR 1910.1030. The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) adopted this federal standard as state regulation on January 29, 1993. The program requires annual training for all potentially exposed employees.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan outlines the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's commitment to compliance with the Federal OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard as adopted by IDOL and provides guidance for the determination of more specific exposure control plans for individual units. The Division of Research Safety, Biological Safety Section (DRS-BSS) is available to assist units with training, selection of the appropriate engineering controls, work practice controls, and PPE requirement to comply with this standard.

For information regarding the Bloodborne Pathogen Program please contact the Biological Safety Section via e-mail or call 333-2755.