Infectious disease control and prevention training is most critical for healthcare workers, but nearly every workplace faces colds and seasonal flu. Jobs with exposure to soil, animals, or ticks also carry risks like tetanus, Lyme disease, and rabies. Supervisors who write exposure control plans benefit as well.

Several OSHA rules apply to infectious disease at work. The Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, covers blood and other potentially infectious materials. PPE requirements fall under 29 CFR 1910.132, and respirators under 1910.134. The General Duty Clause addresses other recognized hazards, alongside CDC guidance on Standard Precautions.

Infectious diseases spread at work when bacteria, viruses, or fungi move from a person or source to someone else. Common routes include respiratory droplets, contaminated hands and surfaces, contact with blood or body fluids, and animal bites or soil exposure. Knowing the route helps workers choose the right precaution.

The hierarchy of controls ranks protective measures from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE. For infectious disease, examples include ventilation, sick-leave policies, vaccination programs, hand hygiene, and gloves or respirators. The 16-minute video, offered in English, Spanish and French, explains this approach.

An exposure control plan is a written document describing how an employer protects workers from infectious hazards. Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard, employers with occupationally exposed workers must have one and review it at least once a year. The plan identifies at-risk jobs, lists controls and PPE, and explains post-exposure steps.