Introduces the fundamentals of bloodborne pathogens and occupational exposure risks encountered by law-enforcement and public-safety personnel. Participants will learn how exposure can occur through blood and other potentially infectious materials, common routes of transmission, and how everyday workplace activities can create exposure and cross-contamination risks.

This section focuses on preventing occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials through standard precautions, appropriate personal protective equipment, safe work practices, and contamination control. Participants will learn how to select, use, remove, and dispose of PPE while reducing the risk of transferring contamination to clothing, tools, equipment, vehicles, work areas, and other people or surfaces.

Sharps Hazards & Exposure Response Employees in many workplaces may encounter needles, syringes, broken glass, blades, or other sharp objects capable of causing a puncture or cut. These hazards may be visible or concealed in trash, bags, furniture, landscaping, restrooms, vehicles, containers, or other work areas. This section covers recognizing and avoiding sharps hazards, preventing needlestick injuries, safely responding to potentially contaminated sharps, and taking appropriate action following an occupational exposure. Participants will also learn the basic steps for reporting an exposure incident and obtaining prompt post-exposure medical evaluation and follow-up.

This section addresses regulatory and employer-specific elements of Bloodborne Pathogens exposure prevention, including the applicable Bloodborne Pathogens standard, the employer’s Exposure Control Plan, engineering and work-practice controls, Hepatitis B vaccination, biohazard signs and labels, emergency procedures, exposure reporting, medical follow-up, and access to the course trainer for questions.

This section brings together the principles covered throughout the course through practical workplace scenarios. Participants will apply bloodborne pathogen exposure prevention, PPE, sharps safety, cross-contamination control, decontamination, and exposure-response principles to situations they may encounter in the workplace.