1910.1030(c)(2): Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Determination
Each employer with employees who have occupational exposure must prepare an exposure determination that lists job classifications where all employees are exposed, job classifications where some employees are exposed, and the tasks and procedures where exposure occurs for that second group. The determination must be made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1030(c)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 161 times in the last 3 years, in 142 inspections, with $111,063 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: KY (20), TN (17), PR (14).
- Related part: 1910.1030(c) Exposure control (1,315 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(2) ("Exposure determination") is one requirement inside 1910.1030 Bloodborne pathogens, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(2) Exposure determination. 161 citations
(i) Each employer who has an employee(s) with occupational exposure as defined by paragraph (b) of this section shall prepare an exposure determination. This exposure determination shall contain the following: Open (c)(2)(i) 161 citations
(A) A list of all job classifications in which all employees in those job classifications have occupational exposure; Open (c)(2)(i)(a) 31 citations
(B) A list of job classifications in which some employees have occupational exposure, and 9 citations
(C) A list of all tasks and procedures or groups of closely related task and procedures in which occupational exposure occurs and that are performed by employees in job classifications listed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B) of this standard. Open (c)(2)(i)(c) 24 citations
(ii) This exposure determination shall be made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1030.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1030(c)(2).
At 2:10 p.m. on December 19, 2024, Employee #1, age 41, was loading barrels of bourbon onto a barrel elevator on the fifth floor of a bourbon rickhouse. Duringthe operation, the elevator cable snapped, causing the barrel lift to fall approximately 34 feet to the…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 62 |
| 2026 | 29 |
Top states: KY (20), TN (17), PR (14), NV (13), MD (12)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DISPATCHHEALTH NV WAGNER, PC | LAS VEGAS, NV | $10,938 |
| 160034 - COUNTY OF GASTON - EMS | GASTONIA, NC | $9,681 |
| 157041 - LILLINGTON OPERATIONS, LLC | LILLINGTON, NC | $9,436 |
| OSCEOLA FOODS, LLC | OSCEOLA, IA | $7,500 |
| MIRAVISTA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER | HOLYOKE, MA | $7,000 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Application of OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard to digital rectal examinations for rectal foreign bodies (2024-03-22)
- Application of BBP standard to the precision machining industry (2013-06-10)
- Applicability of the Bloodborne Pathogens standard during transection of the umbilical cord. (2012-07-13)
- Compliance with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030. (2009-02-27)
- Clarification of the use and selection of BBP safety devices. (2008-05-05)
- Clarification of PPE requirements for phlebotomists performing venipunctures in hospital setting and/or rural outpatient clinics. (2007-10-26)
- Application of OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, to employees in wastewater treatment plants. (2007-07-30)
- Bloodborne Pathogens Standard as it relates to contaminated laundry, sharps containers, and the Hepatitis B vaccine in fitness centers. (2004-09-17)
- Training and designation of first aid providers in general industry and construction. (2004-05-25)
- Potential exposure to contaminated sharps in the solid waste industry. (2003-05-28)
- Applicability of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to the municipal solid waste industry. (2003-01-02)
- Applicability of the Bloodborne Pathogens standard to the tattoo and body piercing industries. (2002-07-29)
- Applicability of the bloodborne pathogens standard to tag attachment devices in garment industries. (1994-08-12)
- Application of provisions of the Bloodborne Pathogens standard to Funeral and Nursing Homes. (1992-06-01)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1030(c) Exposure control 1,315 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1) Exposure Control Plan 1,154 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1)(i) 571 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv) 358 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(2)(i) 161 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1)(ii) 113 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1)(v) 62 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(B) 44 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1)(iii) 43 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1)(ii)(B) 42 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(2)(i)(A) 31 citations
- 1910.1030(c)(1)(ii)(A) 25 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What lists must the exposure determination contain?
Job classifications where all employees have exposure, job classifications where some do, and the tasks and procedures where exposure occurs for the second group.
Does PPE affect the determination?
No. It must be made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment.
Who must prepare one?
Each employer with an employee with occupational exposure as defined in the standard.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1030 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.