What are universal precautions?

Universal precautions are infection control guidelines designed to protect workers from exposure to diseases spread by blood and certain body fluids.

The Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have developed the strategy of "Universal Precautions" to prevent contact with patient blood and body fluids. Universal precautions stress that all patients should be assumed to be infectious for blood-borne diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis B.

Should universal precautions be applied to all workplaces?

In the workplace, universal precautions should be followed when workers are exposed to blood and certain other body fluids, including:

• semen
• vaginal secretions
• synovial fluid
• cerebrospinal fluid
• pleural fluid
• peritoneal fluid
• pericardial fluid
• amniotic fluid

Universal precautions do not apply to:

• feces
• nasal secretions
• sputum
• sweat
• tears
• urine
• vomitus
• saliva (except in the dental setting, where saliva is likely to be contaminated with blood)

Universal precautions should be applied to all body fluids when it is difficult to identify the specific body fluid or when body fluids are visibly contaminated with blood.

How can workers prevent exposure to blood and body fluids?

Barriers are used for protection against occupational exposure to blood and certain body fluids.

These barriers consist of:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Engineering controls
• Work practice controls

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - PPE includes gloves, lab coats, gowns, shoe covers, goggles, glasses with side shields, masks, and resuscitation bags. The purpose of PPE is to prevent blood and body fluids from reaching the workers' skin, mucous membranes, or personal clothing. It must create an effective barrier between the exposed worker and any blood or other body fluids.

Engineering Controls - Engineering controls refer to methods of isolating or removing hazards from the workplace. Examples of engineering controls include: sharps disposal containers, laser scalpels, and ventilation including the use of ventilated biological cabinets (laboratory fume hoods).

Work Practice Controls - It refers to practical techniques that reduce the likelihood of exposure by changing the way a task is performed. Examples of activities requiring specific attention to work practice controls include: hand washing, handling of used needles and other sharps and contaminated reusable sharps, collecting and transporting fluids and tissues according to approved safe practices.

Is universal protection required by law?

Occupational health and safety is regulated in Canada in each of the fourteen jurisdictions (provincial, territorial and federal). Some jurisdictions may have also developed specific modifications of infection control guidelines. For more information on these, you may wish to contact the departments responsible for occupational health and safety and public health in your province.

Document last updated on April 2, 2002