Healthcare workers use personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as PPE, because we must consider blood and body fluids from all patients as being potentially infectious.
PPE refers to the protective clothing, safety glasses or goggles, facial shields, gloves, or shoe covers that are designed to protect the healthcare worker’s body from injury and exposure to infectious microorganisms or hazardous chemicals.
Employers are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide all necessary PPE for every employee at no cost to the employee. Employees must never be asked to provide their own PPE.
OSHA also requires that any potentially infectious specimens, which includes most clinical laboratory samples, be placed in a secondary container with a biohazard symbol present when being transported.
