The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, in OSHA 29 CFR 1910:1030, provides practices to follow when rendering first aid, to help protect you from infections caused by germs carried in blood. Under this standard, employers must develop an exposure control plan, provide training to workers potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens, implement engineering or work practice controls, enforce use of personal protective equipment, offer a hepatitis B vaccine, exposure evaluation and follow-up, and use signs and labels to warn of potential hazards. Because this information can get quite technical, some key definitions, to which you may want to refer back to later, may be helpful: BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS - Microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These include Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV). EXPOSURE INCIDENT - A specific eye,mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious material that results from doing one"s job. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE - Reasonable anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious material that may result from doing one"s job. PARENTERAL - A piercing of mucous membranes or the skin barrier by means of a needle stick, human bite, cut, or abrasion. UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS - An infection control approach whereby all human blood and certain body fluids are treated as if they were known to be infected with HIV, HBV, both, or other bloodborne pathogens. POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIALS - Materials which may be present in a first aid emergency, including blood, urine, or other body fluids, and vomit, especially when blood is visible. If you are a health professional, a designated first responder or first aid provider in your company, in maintenance, or are involved in housekeeping work where you could possibly be exposed to bloodborne pathogens, you need to know about this standard. Other types of workers covered by the standard are healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters, and employees of correctional facilities or funeral homes.