This page provides advice to assist in the initial management of a potential workplace exposure to a bloodborne virus (BBV), irrespective of the circumstances, or location of that exposure.
Further management of an incident, such as providing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), will require specialist knowledge and expertise. This is available through a number of ways, which include:
- local health protection units
- specialist-led occupational health departments
- clinicians such as infectious diseases specialists
- genito-urinary medicine specialists
- accident and emergency specialists
The term 'source' means the person or item from which the blood or body fluid originated, while the term 'recipient' means the person exposed to potentially BBV infected blood or body fluids.
What workers should do
As a worker, you should:
- familiarise yourself with the following immediate first aid requirements of exposure to BBVs
- report any possible exposure incidents to your supervisor, line manager or health and safety adviser and your occupational health department
Immediate first aid requirements
Workers should follow these steps for first aid:
- Where the eyes or mouth have been exposed to blood or body fluids, they should be washed copiously with water
- For puncture or needlestick wounds, the wound should be gently encouraged to bleed, but not scrubbed or sucked, and should be washed with soap and water
It is not necessary to keep any needle or sharp instrument to send to the laboratory for testing for the presence of BBVs. Any such sharp instruments should not be re-sheathed, but disposed of directly into an appropriate container.
What employers must do
As an employer, you are legally required to make arrangements that deal with foreseeable emergency scenarios.
If work activities involve the interaction with potentially BBV-contaminated material, it is a foreseeable emergency scenario that workers could inadvertently be exposed to BBVs in the course of their work activities.
Emergency plans for possible exposures to BBV need to include:
- the foreseeable types of incidents, accidents or emergencies that might occur
- the role, responsibilities and authority of individuals during an emergency
- procedures for employees to follow – including regular safety drills and identifying the special needs of any employees
- immediate first aid arrangements
- access to specialist knowledge and expertise for follow up as described above including the timing of access following an exposure
- procedures for cleaning up and disposal of waste if applicable
Employers must also have arrangements for recording exposure incidents, and follow the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) reporting arrangements if applicable.
There is more guidance on incident reporting in legal information on bloodborne viruses.
You can also find more general guidance about RIDDOR reporting.
Follow-up requirements
Following any needlestick or puncture wound, an urgent assessment by an appropriate clinician is required to:
- establish if the exposure has the potential to transmit a BBV
- determine any steps to be taken following an exposure
Other injuries may also require follow-up with an appropriate clinician.
Sources of authoritative guidance
Here are some authoritative information sources related to BBV post-exposure intervention and treatment: