It's a primary responsibility for cleaning employees to understand and follow OSHA bloodborne pathogens training for their own safety. Any cleaning staff that handles sharps bins, biohazard waste, or other potentially contaminated objects should know how to protect themselves against exposure.

Fundamental things for cleaning teams to remember should include exposure determination, exposure control plans, the effectiveness of personal protective equipment, what to do in the event of exposure, and medical and reporting follow-up after exposure.

It's also critical for your cleaning teams to understand symptoms of bloodborne pathogen illnesses so they can determine if medical attention is required. Common exposure illnesses included HIV and Hepatitis. 

Your medical clients also want the reassurance that your cleaning teams have been properly trained in handling contaminated material. It may sound like a small thing, but clients will want to know that your employees are as educated as their own when it comes to bloodborne pathogens, especially if the client is a medical clinic or doctor’s office.