What is the importance of cleaning and employees and staff knowing about bloodborne pathogens? We have all heard the saying, “cleanliness is next to godliness,” and this statement is not only true, but it should be a standard requirement when providing cleaning services for businesses. Safety is another important aspect of taking care of employees and staff. In order to provide topnotch cleaning services, employees and staff must not only be vetted properly prior to onboarding but also be trained in how to appropriately handle bloodborne pathogens.

The first thing to address as an employer is making sure employees and staff understand what are bloodborne pathogens? Many cleaning employees and staff may not be familiar with the term or have a concrete definition of what it is. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, 2020), bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries may expose workers to bloodborne pathogens. Workers in many occupations, including first responders, housekeeping personnel in some industries, nurses and other healthcare personnel, all may be at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens. However, when employees are knowledgeable about what it is and the seriousness of how it can cause long-term health issues and death, bloodborne pathogen training is taken more seriously.

Next, the employer must be diligent in providing an ongoing control plan to reduce risks when handling bloodborne pathogens. This control plan should be provided during onboarding and revisited quarterly to keep employees and staff up to date with changes or additional updates provided by OSHA. Each day there are circumstances or situations caused by accidental punctures from contaminated sharp objects with bloodborne pathogens.

Finally, the employer should always provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure and keep employees and staff safe. Employers should provide signs that advise others to avoid high risk areas and reduce the risk of employees and staff becoming exposed to bloodborne pathogens.

In conclusion, protecting employees and staff from bloodborne pathogens should be a top priority. As commercial cleaning business owners, it is imperative to protect our business through safety by contributing to a healthy, sustainable workforce. We are charged with the responsibility of taking care of our customers, and this same consideration must be provided for employees and staff.