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Bloodborne Pathogen Awareness

Healthcare | 15-20 min

Summary

Healthcare workers face approximately 385,000 needlestick and other sharps-related injuries annually, each carrying the potential for transmission of serious bloodborne diseases including HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. While HIV transmission risk from a single needlestick is approximately 0.3%, Hepatitis B transmission risk can be as high as 30% from a single exposure to infected blood. These stark numbers underscore why bloodborne pathogen protection must be taken seriously every time.

Members get the full script, discussion questions, English + Spanish printable PDFs, and email delivery.

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Key Points to Cover

  • Treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious
  • Use engineering controls and work practices to prevent exposure
  • Wear appropriate PPE when exposure is possible
  • Know the exposure response procedure
  • Hepatitis B vaccination is available and recommended

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should this safety talk take?

Plan for about 15-20 min, with extra time for questions and site-specific examples.

Can I tailor the discussion to my workplace?

Yes. Use the key points as a starting place and connect them to the tasks, equipment, and procedures your team uses.

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