1910.1030(d)(2): Bloodborne Engineering and Work Practice Controls
Employers must use engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize exposure to blood, adding PPE where exposure remains. Controls must be checked and maintained on a schedule, handwashing facilities must be readily accessible, workers must wash after removing gloves or contact with blood, and contaminated needles and sharps must not be bent, recapped, removed, sheared or broken except as the rule allows.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1030(d)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 141 times in the last 3 years, in 109 inspections, with $153,679 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (77), NY (9), CT (6).
- Related part: 1910.1030(d) Methods of compliance (455 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2) ("Engineering and work practice controls") is one requirement inside 1910.1030 Bloodborne pathogens, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 25 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) Engineering and work practice controls. 141 citations
(i) Engineering and work practice controls shall be used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure. Where occupational exposure remains after institution of these controls, personal protective equipment shall also be used. Open (d)(2)(i) 53 citations
(ii) Engineering controls shall be examined and maintained or replaced on a regular schedule to ensure their effectiveness. 4 citations
(iii) Employers shall provide handwashing facilities which are readily accessible to employees. Open (d)(2)(iii) 3 citations
(iv) When provision of handwashing facilities is not feasible, the employer shall provide either an appropriate antiseptic hand cleanser in conjunction with clean cloth/paper towels or antiseptic towelettes. When antiseptic hand cleansers or towelettes are used, hands shall be washed with soap and running water as soon as feasible.
(v) Employers shall ensure that employees wash their hands immediately or as soon as feasible after removal of gloves or other personal protective equipment. Open (d)(2)(v)
(vi) Employers shall ensure that employees wash hands and any other skin with soap and water, or flush mucous membranes with water immediately or as soon as feasible following contact of such body areas with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Open (d)(2)(vi) 1 citations
(vii) Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps shall not be bent, recapped, or removed except as noted in paragraphs (d)(2)(vii)(A) and (d)(2)(vii)(B) below. Shearing or breaking of contaminated needles is prohibited. Open (d)(2)(vii) 48 citations
(A) Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps shall not be bent, recapped or removed unless the employer can demonstrate that no alternative is feasible or that such action is required by a specific medical or dental procedure. Open (d)(2)(vii)(a) 33 citations
(B) Such bending, recapping or needle removal must be accomplished through the use of a mechanical device or a one-handed technique. Open (d)(2)(vii)(b) 12 citations
(viii) Immediately or as soon as possible after use, contaminated reusable sharps shall be placed in appropriate containers until properly reprocessed. These containers shall be: Open (d)(2)(viii) 22 citations
(A) Puncture resistant; Open (d)(2)(viii)(a) 2 citations
(B) Labeled or color-coded in accordance with this standard; Open (d)(2)(viii)(b) 14 citations
(C) Leakproof on the sides and bottom; and 2 citations
(D) In accordance with the requirements set forth in paragraph (d)(4)(ii)(E) for reusable sharps.
(ix) Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure. Open (d)(2)(ix) 3 citations
(x) Food and drink shall not be kept in refrigerators, freezers, shelves, cabinets or on countertops or benchtops where blood or other potentially infectious materials are present. 4 citations
(xi) All procedures involving blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be performed in such a manner as to minimize splashing, spraying, spattering, and generation of droplets of these substances. Open (d)(2)(xi) 1 citations
(xii) Mouth pipetting/suctioning of blood or other potentially infectious materials is prohibited.
(xiii) Specimens of blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be placed in a container which prevents leakage during collection, handling, processing, storage, transport, or shipping. Open (d)(2)(xiii) 2 citations
(A) The container for storage, transport, or shipping shall be labeled or color-coded according to paragraph (g)(1)(i) and closed prior to being stored, transported, or shipped. When a facility utilizes Universal Precautions in the handling of all specimens, the labeling/color-coding of specimens is not necessary provided containers are recognizable as containing specimens. This exemption only applies while such specimens/containers remain within the facility. Labeling or color-coding in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i) is required when such specimens/containers leave the facility.
(B) If outside contamination of the primary container occurs, the primary container shall be placed within a second container which prevents leakage during handling, processing, storage, transport, or shipping and is labeled or color-coded according to the requirements of this standard.
(C) If the specimen could puncture the primary container, the primary container shall be placed within a secondary container which is puncture-resistant in addition to the above characteristics.
(xiv) Equipment which may become contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be examined prior to servicing or shipping and shall be decontaminated as necessary, unless the employer can demonstrate that decontamination of such equipment or portions of such equipment is not feasible. Open (d)(2)(xiv)
(A) A readily observable label in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i)(H) shall be attached to the equipment stating which portions remain contaminated. Open (d)(2)(xiv)(a)
(B) The employer shall ensure that this information is conveyed to all affected employees, the servicing representative, and/or the manufacturer, as appropriate, prior to handling, servicing, or shipping so that appropriate precautions will be taken.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1030.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 44 |
| 2025 | 66 |
| 2026 | 27 |
Top states: TN (77), NY (9), CT (6), OR (6), MD (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| HERO PRACTICE SERVICES | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $11,588 |
| CPX2024XJW184X0085 - SURGENEX, LLC | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $10,372 |
| WILLIAM F. RYAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | NEW YORK, NY | $7,685 |
| FAIRPORT BAPTIST HOMES | FAIRPORT, NY | $7,052 |
| 317737396 - CASCADIA HEALTH | PORTLAND, OR | $6,916 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1030(d)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Application of OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard to digital rectal examinations for rectal foreign bodies (2024-03-22)
- Is a single-handed scalpel blade removal device an engineering control under the Bloodborne Pathogens standard? (2023-02-08)
- Emergency eyewash requirements for eye hazards caused by bloodborne pathogens (2020-11-06)
- Shipping Labels for Blood Contaminated Medical Devices (2019-09-06)
- Use of reusable microblading tools in the cosmetic tattoo industry (2017-01-06)
- Clarification of work practice controls when using needless connectors (2016-03-22)
- Specifying decontamination disinfectants and procedures (2014-01-10)
- Transporting contaminated surgical instruments for cleaning (2013-01-31)
- Applicability of the Bloodborne Pathogens standard during transection of the umbilical cord. (2012-07-13)
- Removal of Contaminated Needles Prior to Disposal. (2011-12-19)
- OSHA's position on the use of Novartis' Fluvirin device. (2008-11-24)
- OSHA's position on the use of fingers or a two-handed procedure with a hemostat to remove scalpel blades. (2008-11-21)
- OSHA's position on the use of Q104 needle removal device. (2008-09-25)
- OSHA's position on the use of lancets or lancing devices without safety-engineered features for finger prick blood sampling in the workplace. (2008-09-09)
- Clarification of the use and selection of BBP safety devices. (2008-05-05)
- Whether the BD SmartSlip is an acceptable safety-engineered device under 1910.1030. (2007-06-21)
- Requirements for safety-engineered sharps for stockpiled pandemic influenza vaccines and pre-filled syringes. (2007-03-02)
- Whether shielding is required when removing Becton Dickinson's blood tubes with a Hemoguard® closure. (2007-01-29)
- Requirements for covered beverages at nurses' stations. (2006-05-17)
- Use of passing trays and single-handed scalpel blade remover in a surgical setting. (2005-12-22)
- "Freehand" piercing without the use of forceps or other engineering controls violates the bloodborne pathogens standards. (2005-12-08)
- Applicability of the bloodborne pathogens standard to persons who self-administer injectable medications. (2005-09-06)
- Definition of contaminated sharps; engineering controls and good work practice controls must be implemented; ECP must be reviewed annually. (2005-06-03)
- Containment and disposal requirements for disposable razors used in long-term health care facilities for personal grooming. (2005-03-28)
- Needle removal procedures for situations where other methods of disposal are infeasible or required by a specific procedure. (2004-12-09)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1030(d) Methods of compliance 455 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4) Housekeeping 262 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii) Regulated Waste 195 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A) Contaminated Sharps Discarding and Containment 131 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(2)(i) 53 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii) 48 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(3) Personal protective equipment 48 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A) 33 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(iv) Laundry 23 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(i) General 23 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(2)(viii) 22 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii) 21 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When must employees wash their hands under the bloodborne pathogens standard?
Immediately or as soon as feasible after removing gloves or other PPE, and after contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Can contaminated needles be recapped?
Not unless the employer can show no alternative is feasible or a specific medical or dental procedure requires it; shearing or breaking is prohibited.
What if handwashing facilities are not feasible?
The employer must provide antiseptic hand cleanser with clean towels or antiseptic towelettes, and hands must be washed with soap and running water as soon as feasible.
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.
