Methods To Control The Risk Of Exposure (Continued…)

756 Bloodborne Pathogens in Healthcare Settings Exposure Control Methods Methods To Control The Risk Of Exposure (Continued…)

Employee placing a needle in a SHARPS container — A sharps container is a good example of an engineering control.

The two essential control strategies employees use to eliminate or minimize the transmission of bloodborne diseases in the workplace are:

engineering controls
work practice controls

Engineering Controls

Engineering controls minimize exposure in the workplace either by removing or isolating the hazard, such as providing a sharps container for needles, splash guards, and mechanical pipetting devices.

Engineering controls are all about the equipment used to minimize exposure. The Sharps container for needles is a good example of an engineering control. Employers need to examine and maintain or replace engineering controls on a regularly scheduled basis.

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