755 Bloodborne Pathogens Program Management

Glossary

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A

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). A condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in which the immune system becomes severely compromised, leading to opportunistic infections and diseases.
• Acute. A condition with a rapid onset and typically short duration, such as an acute infection.
• Administrative Controls. Policies and procedures implemented to reduce or eliminate employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens, such as training, work schedules, and vaccination requirements.
• Airborne. A mode of transmission in which infectious agents are spread through the air and inhaled by susceptible individuals.
• Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR). A specialized room designed to isolate patients with airborne infectious diseases, equipped with negative pressure ventilation and HEPA filters.
• Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). A treatment regimen for managing HIV/AIDS that suppresses the virus and improves immune system function.
• Annual Training. OSHA's requirement that employees at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens receive training at least annually to ensure knowledge of protective practices and compliance measures.

B

• Biohazard Label. A label required by OSHA to mark containers of regulated waste, contaminated equipment, or other items potentially containing infectious materials, featuring the universal biohazard symbol and specific color-coding.
• Biohazard Waste Containers. Specially marked and durable containers used to dispose of infectious or potentially infectious materials such as contaminated sharps and bodily fluids.
• Bleach. A disinfectant commonly used in healthcare settings to kill pathogens on surfaces and equipment, typically diluted to an appropriate concentration for safety and efficacy.
• Blood. A bodily fluid that transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste, and can potentially contain bloodborne pathogens when infected.
• Blood Testing. Diagnostic procedures to detect infections, diseases, or conditions such as the presence of bloodborne pathogens in the bloodstream.
• Bloodborne. Refers to pathogens or infectious agents that are transmitted through contact with infected blood.
• Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. OSHA's regulation (29 CFR 1910.1030) designed to protect workers from health hazards caused by exposure to bloodborne pathogens, requiring measures like an exposure control plan, PPE, and training.
• Bloodborne Pathogens. Infectious microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease in humans, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Program. An organized set of OSHA-required practices and policies designed to prevent and manage occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including elements like training, PPE, and vaccination.
• Bodily Fluids. Liquids produced by the body, such as blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions, some of which can carry infectious agents.

C

• Cerebrospinal Fluid. A clear fluid found in the brain and spinal cord that can potentially carry infectious pathogens.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. federal agency that provides guidelines and recommendations for the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including bloodborne pathogen safety practices.
• Chronic. A long-term or recurring condition, such as chronic hepatitis, which may require ongoing management.
• Contaminated Waste. Waste material containing blood, OPIM, or infectious agents that must be disposed of according to OSHA and local regulations.
• Contact Precautions. Infection control measures to prevent the spread of pathogens through direct or indirect contact, often used for multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs).
• Cure. The complete eradication of a disease or infection, though some diseases, such as HIV, currently have no cure.

D

• Decontamination. The process of removing or neutralizing infectious agents on surfaces, tools, or equipment to make them safe for handling.
• Declining Vaccination. A process where an employee chooses to refuse a recommended vaccine, such as the hepatitis B vaccine, often documented with a signed declination form.
• Designated First Aid Providers. Employees assigned to administer first aid or medical assistance in the workplace, who must receive bloodborne pathogen training if occupational exposure is anticipated.
• Disinfection. The use of chemicals or physical methods to eliminate or reduce pathogens on surfaces or objects.

E

• Engineering Controls. Devices or equipment designed to isolate or remove bloodborne pathogen hazards from the workplace, such as sharps disposal containers and self-sheathing needles.
• Exposure Control Plan (ECP). A written program required by OSHA that outlines protective measures to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Exposure Determination. An evaluation process required by OSHA to identify employees who may be at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens based on their job duties.
• Exposure Incident. A specific contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) that may result in the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, such as a needlestick injury.
• Exposure Incident Documentation. A required record of any incident where an employee was exposed to bloodborne pathogens, including details of the event, follow-up measures, and medical evaluations.
• Exposure Routes. Pathways through which an infectious agent enters the body, including inhalation, ingestion, or skin penetration.

F

• Fecal-Oral Route. A transmission pathway for diseases, where pathogens from fecal matter are ingested, often through contaminated food or water.

G

• Gloves. Personal protective equipment (PPE) worn on the hands to prevent direct contact with infectious materials, such as blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
• Good Samaritan Act. A law designed to protect individuals who voluntarily provide emergency assistance from legal liability, though it does not negate OSHA's bloodborne pathogens requirements for trained personnel.

H

• Hand Hygiene. Practices to reduce the spread of infectious pathogens, including proper handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Hand Hygiene Station. A designated area with soap, water, and/or alcohol-based hand sanitizers for proper hand hygiene practices to prevent the spread of infection.
• HEPA Filter. A high-efficiency particulate air filter that captures airborne particles, including pathogens, used in respiratory protection devices and air purification systems.
• Hepatitis A. A viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver and is primarily spread through the fecal-oral route.
• Hepatitis B. A viral infection of the liver caused by HBV, often spread through blood and bodily fluids; preventable with vaccination.
• Hepatitis B Vaccination. A three-dose vaccine series provided to employees at risk of exposure to HBV, as required by OSHA under the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.
• Hepatitis C. A liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), commonly transmitted through blood; currently no vaccine is available.
• Hepatitis D. A liver infection caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV), which occurs only in individuals already infected with HBV.
• Hepatitis E. A viral liver infection caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), often spread through contaminated water.
• Hierarchy of Controls. A framework promoted by NIOSH to minimize workplace hazards, prioritizing elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
• Human Blood. The fluid that circulates through the human body, which can carry bloodborne pathogens when infected.

I

• Immunization Records. Documentation of employee vaccination status, including records of hepatitis B vaccinations, maintained as part of an employer’s compliance with OSHA requirements.
• Infectious Blood. Blood that contains harmful pathogens capable of causing disease in others.
• Injection. A medical procedure where a needle is used to administer substances such as medications into the body, which can pose risks if not performed safely.

J

• Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). A process for identifying and mitigating risks associated with specific job tasks, including potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

K

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). A framework used to evaluate an individual’s qualifications for specific job tasks, including understanding (knowledge), practical application (skills), and innate or learned proficiencies (abilities), often applied in training and compliance with OSHA standards for handling bloodborne pathogens.

L

• Labeling Requirements. OSHA-mandated guidelines requiring clear labels with the biohazard symbol on containers used for regulated waste or contaminated materials.
• Laundry Practices. Procedures for handling and cleaning contaminated laundry to prevent the spread of infectious materials, including the use of proper PPE and labeled containers.

M

• Malaria. A disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, not typically classified as a bloodborne pathogen but relevant in exposure risk contexts.
• Mandate. A legal requirement or regulation, such as OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, designed to protect workers from exposure risks.
• Medical Waste Disposal. The proper handling and disposal of waste contaminated with blood or other infectious materials, such as sharps, gloves, and gauze, following regulatory guidelines.

N

• Nasal Secretions. Fluids produced in the nasal passages, which are generally not infectious unless contaminated with blood.
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). A U.S. federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses, including those related to bloodborne pathogens.
• Needlestick. An accidental puncture of the skin by a contaminated needle, a common occupational exposure risk in healthcare.
• Needlestick Injury Reporting. A mandatory process for documenting and evaluating needlestick injuries in compliance with OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Needlestick Prevention Devices. Tools designed to minimize the risk of needlestick injuries, such as retractable needles and sheathed syringes.

O

• Occupational Exposure. Reasonably anticipated contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) during the performance of job duties.
• Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM). Substances that can transmit infectious agents, including bodily fluids like semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, and saliva in dental procedures.

P

• Pathogen. A microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, or parasite that can cause disease.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Specialized clothing or equipment worn to protect employees from exposure to infectious materials, such as gloves, gowns, face shields, and masks.
• Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-Up. Procedures required by OSHA to assess and treat employees following exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including medical evaluation and counseling.
• Post-Exposure Medical Records. Confidential records maintained by the employer that include details of an employee’s exposure incident, medical evaluations, and follow-up treatments.
• Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Treatment administered after potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens to prevent infection, often including antiviral or other medications.
• Puncture. A break in the skin caused by a sharp object, which may serve as an entry point for bloodborne pathogens.

Q

• Qualified Healthcare Professional. A licensed or certified medical professional who evaluates and provides follow-up care for employees exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
• Quantitative Fit Testing. A method of testing the fit of a respirator to ensure it properly seals against the user's face, protecting them from airborne pathogens.

R

• Regulated Waste. Waste that may contain blood or OPIM, such as contaminated sharps or pathological materials, requiring proper labeling, handling, and disposal per OSHA guidelines.
• Respiratory Protection. Equipment such as masks or respirators designed to prevent inhalation of airborne pathogens or hazardous substances.
• Risk. The probability of harm or infection occurring due to exposure to a hazardous agent.

S

• Safe Injection Practices. Procedures to ensure that injections are performed safely, reducing the risk of infection and contamination.
• Saliva. A bodily fluid that can sometimes carry infectious agents, particularly in dental or surgical procedures.
• Semen. A bodily fluid that can transmit bloodborne pathogens such as HIV or hepatitis.
• Sharps Container. A puncture-resistant, leak-proof container used for the safe disposal of needles, scalpels, and other sharps contaminated with blood or OPIM.
• Sharps Injury Log. A record required under OSHA standards for documenting injuries caused by contaminated sharps, such as needles or scalpels.
• Source Individual. A person whose blood or bodily fluids are the source of exposure to an employee, often requiring testing for bloodborne pathogens.
• Standard Precautions (SP). A set of infection control practices used to prevent transmission of diseases, assuming all blood and bodily fluids are potentially infectious.
• Syphilis. A sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium *Treponema pallidum*, which can also be transmitted through blood.

T

• Target Organs. Specific organs or tissues affected by a particular disease or pathogen, such as the liver in hepatitis infections.
• Training Records. Documentation of employee participation in OSHA-required bloodborne pathogens training, which must be maintained by the employer for at least three years.
• Transmission-Based Precautions (TBP). Additional infection control measures applied when the standard precautions are not sufficient to prevent transmission of highly contagious diseases.

U

• Universal Precautions. An infection control approach where all human blood and bodily fluids are treated as if they are infectious, required under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.

V

• Vaccination. The administration of a vaccine to stimulate an immune response and protect against infectious diseases such as hepatitis B.
• Vaginal Secretions. Bodily fluids that can carry bloodborne pathogens and other infectious agents.

W

• West Nile Virus. A mosquito-borne virus that can cause neurological diseases in humans, though not typically classified as a bloodborne pathogen.
• Worker Protections. OSHA-mandated measures and safeguards to ensure employee safety from workplace hazards, including exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Work Practice Controls. Procedures that reduce the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, such as proper handwashing techniques and safe disposal of sharps.
• Workplace Exposure Log. A detailed record of all exposure incidents and needlestick injuries, maintained in compliance with OSHA regulations.

X

• Xenograft. A surgical graft of tissue from one species to another, which may carry risks of pathogen transmission and require strict infection control measures.

Y

• Yellow Fever. A mosquito-borne viral infection that can cause severe symptoms and is relevant in discussions about disease prevention and worker safety in endemic areas.

Z

• Zoonotic Diseases. Diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans, such as brucellosis or rabies, which may involve bloodborne or other infectious pathogens.