Bloodborne pathogens are infectious diseases, such as viral infections, contained in and transmitted through human blood. Bloodborne pathogens can be extremely serious, often fatal, and many viral infections are incurable once they take hold. It is therefore extremely important for anyone whose work exposes them to human blood to take preventative measures against bloodborne pathogens.

When cleaning surfaces or materials that may be contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids, one should follow the rule of better safe than sorry. Always assume that something that *might* be contaminated, *is* contaminated. Wear gloves and other personal protective equipment, and dispose of materials properly and neatly. Contaminated waste should be placed into secure disposal containers labelled for biohazards and/or color-coded red or orange. Sharp objects such as needles must be handled with particular care. Surfaces must be disinfected with suitable cleaning products, which themselves may be hazardous if they are not used according to the instructions.

Often in our lives, especially in workplace settings, we humans are tempted to take shortcuts and to disregard the more inconvenient rules that are set out for us. We may feel that it is unnecessary to go through all the steps or to adhere to all the rules, but this is one case in which we cannot afford to have such an attitude. Following proper clean-up procedures to prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens is not merely a matter of jumping through hoops and checking boxes. It is a matter of life and death, not just for the janitorial worker, but also for the people around them. 

(This essay is for my certification requirements.)