Model Plans and Programs for the Osha Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazard Communications Standards

The mission of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect the health of America’s workers. As part of the Department of Labor, OSHA promotes worker safety and health in every workplace in the United States. OSHA’S bloodborne pathogens standard protects employees who work in occupations where they are at risk of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. OSHA’s hazard communication standard protects employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals. Both standards require employers to develop written documents to explain how they will implement each standard, provide training to employees, and protect the health and safety of their workers. This publication includes a model exposure control plan to meet the requirements of the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard and a model hazard communication program to meet the requirements of the hazard communication standard. These model documents can be used as templates for your own workplace exposure control plan and hazard communication program, but you must tailor them to the specific requirements of your establishment. These sample plans contain all elements required by the bloodborne pathogens and hazard communication standards, so you should not eliminate any items when converting them for your own use. Your written plans must be accessible to all employees, either on-line or in an area where they are available for review on all shifts. This publication provides general guidance on preparing written plans required by OSHA standards, but should not be considered a definitive interpretation for compliance with OSHA requirements. The reader should consult the OSHA bloodborne pathogens and hazard communication standards in their entirety for specific compliance requirements.