1910.1030(d)(4)(ii): Decontaminating Surfaces After Blood Contact
Employers must clean and decontaminate all equipment and surfaces after contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Work surfaces must be disinfected after procedures, as soon as feasible after spills, and at shift end if possibly contaminated. Protective coverings must be replaced when contaminated, reusable bins inspected and cleaned regularly, broken glass picked up only with mechanical means, and reusable sharps handled without reaching into containers.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 21 times in the last 3 years, in 21 inspections, with $24,591 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (11), CT (4), NC (1).
- 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)(4)(ii) 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
(ii) All equipment and environmental and working surfaces shall be cleaned and decontaminated after contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. 21 citations
(A) Contaminated work surfaces shall be decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant after completion of procedures; immediately or as soon as feasible when surfaces are overtly contaminated or after any spill of blood or other potentially infectious materials; and at the end of the work shift if the surface may have become contaminated since the last cleaning. Open (d)(4)(ii)(a) 12 citations
(B) Protective coverings, such as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or imperviously-backed absorbent paper used to cover equipment and environmental surfaces, shall be removed and replaced as soon as feasible when they become overtly contaminated or at the end of the workshift if they may have become contaminated during the shift.
(C) All bins, pails, cans, and similar receptacles intended for reuse which have a reasonable likelihood for becoming contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be inspected and decontaminated on a regularly scheduled basis and cleaned and decontaminated immediately or as soon as feasible upon visible contamination.
(D) Broken glassware which may be contaminated shall not be picked up directly with the hands. It shall be cleaned up using mechanical means, such as a brush and dust pan, tongs, or forceps. 1 citations
(E) Reusable sharps that are contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials shall not be stored or processed in a manner that requires employees to reach by hand into the containers where these sharps have been placed. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1030.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: TN (11), CT (4), NC (1), GA (1), VT (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 154910 - STERICYCLE, INC. | CONCORD, NC | $8,000 |
| FAMILY DENTAL ASSOCIATES, LTD. | RUTLAND, VT | $5,531 |
| 109572 - THE EMILY PROGRAM PC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $3,600 |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,450 |
| JMCT 13-3 LLC | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $2,420 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Transporting contaminated surgical instruments for cleaning (2013-01-31)
- Appropriate disinfectants for decontamination of blood or OPIM. (2010-03-09)
- Responsibility for cleaning/preventing exposure to contaminated emergency medical equipment. (2000-10-04)
- The OSHA policy on the use of disinfectants that are registered with the EPA as being effective against HBV and HIV. (1996-09-24)
- Disinfectant products "D-125" and "Public Places" (1996-06-28)
- Decontamination of a plush carpet surface after a spill. (1994-06-10)
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)(2) Engineering and work practice controls 141 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
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
When must contaminated work surfaces be decontaminated?
After procedures, immediately or as soon as feasible after overt contamination or spills, and at end of shift if they may have been contaminated.
Can broken glass be picked up by hand?
No. It must be cleaned up using mechanical means, such as a brush and dust pan, tongs or forceps.
What about reusable bins and pails?
They must be inspected and decontaminated on a regular schedule and as soon as feasible when visibly contaminated.
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.