Flu season safety moment: infection control at work

The rule

What OSHA requires

Plain-language summary. Each line links to the exact paragraph of the regulation.

• OSHA has no specific standard for the flu or the common cold, but the general duty to train still applies: in construction, the employer must instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to their work environment.

  “The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.”

  29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2)

• Lavatories must be made available, with hot and cold or tepid running water, hand soap or similar cleansing agents, and individual hand towels or air blowers. This applies in construction (29 CFR 1926.51(f)(3)(i) to (iv)) and in permanent general industry workplaces (29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(i) to (iv)). Mobile crews and normally unattended work locations are exempt if workers have transportation readily available to nearby washing facilities.

  “Lavatories shall be made available in all places of employment.”

  29 CFR 1926.51(f)(3)(i)

• In construction, the common drinking cup is prohibited. In permanent general industry workplaces, a common drinking cup and other common utensils are prohibited (29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1)(vi)).

  “The common drinking cup is prohibited.”

  29 CFR 1926.51(a)(4)

• No employee may be allowed to eat or drink in a toilet room or in any area exposed to a toxic material. This applies in construction and, where employees may eat or drink on the premises, in permanent general industry workplaces (29 CFR 1910.141(g)(1) and (g)(2)).

  “No employee shall be allowed to consume food or beverages in a toilet room nor in any area exposed to a toxic material.”

  29 CFR 1926.51(g)

• In permanent general industry workplaces, all places of employment must be kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allows.

  “All places of employment shall be kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allows.”

  29 CFR 1910.141(a)(3)(i)

• Each employer with employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials must establish a written exposure control plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure. The plan must be reviewed and updated at least annually (29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)).

  “shall establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure.”

  29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(i)

• Under the bloodborne pathogens standard, universal precautions must be observed to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. When it is difficult or impossible to tell body fluid types apart, all body fluids must be considered potentially infectious materials.

  “Universal precautions shall be observed to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.”

  29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(1)

• Under the bloodborne pathogens standard, employers must provide handwashing facilities that are readily accessible to employees (29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(iii)). They must make sure employees wash their hands immediately or as soon as feasible after removing gloves or other personal protective equipment.

  “Employers shall ensure that employees wash their hands immediately or as soon as feasible after removal of gloves or other personal protective equipment.”

  29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(v)

• The hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series must be made available to all employees who have occupational exposure, along with post-exposure evaluation and follow-up for any employee who has an exposure incident. These must be made available at no cost to the employee (29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(1)(ii)(A)).

  “The employer shall make available the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series to all employees who have occupational exposure, and post-exposure evaluation and follow-up to all employees who have had an exposure incident.”

  29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(1)(i)

• Each employee with occupational exposure must be trained at no cost and during working hours, at the time of initial assignment and at least annually after that (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)).

  “Such training must be provided at no cost to the employee and during working hours.”

  29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(i)

Who must be trained

Under the bloodborne pathogens standard, each employee with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(i)). The training must be at no cost to the employee and during working hours, and the material must fit the employees' educational level, literacy and language (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(vi)).

When to retrain

Bloodborne pathogens training must be given at the time of initial assignment and at least annually after that, within one year of the previous training (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii) and (g)(2)(iv)). Additional training is required when new or changed tasks or procedures affect an employee's occupational exposure (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(v)).