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OSHA estimates that 5.6 million workers in the health
care industry and related occupations are at risk of occupational exposure
to bloodborne pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and others. All
occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)
place workers at risk for infection with bloodborne pathogens. OSHA defines
blood to mean human blood, human blood components, and products made from
human blood. Other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) means: (1) The
following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid,
synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic
fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly
contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is
difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids; (2) Any
unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or
dead); and (3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and
HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs,
or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV. The
following references listed in the next section aid in recognizing workplace
hazards associated with bloodborne pathogens.
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