Strategies for preventing exposure to blood and body substances

Strategies for preventing exposure to blood and body substances

Preventing blood and body substance exposure is achieved by implementing standard precautions and other well-defined safe work practices. All staff at risk of blood or body substance exposure must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of standard precautions and transmission-based precautions.

Depending on their role and duties, staff may also need to:

• use safety-engineered devices where available
• practise safe handling and disposal of sharps
• practise safe handling and transport of specimens
• practise safe handling and disposal of waste
• use standard precautions for environmental cleaning
• use appropriate cleaning methods for blood and body substance spills
• practise safe handling and cleaning of reusable medical devices.