Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers have a legal duty to protect the health of their employees and anyone else (e.g. contractors, visitors and members of the public) who may be affected by the work that they carry out or who may be on the premises at any time.

Specific legislation on the hazards that may arise due to working with biological agents such as blood or body fluids, is contained in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). The COSHH Regulations require employers to assess the risk of infection to employees and others who may be affected by their work and, when the risk is known, implement suitable measures to protect their health. Employees should also be given adequate information, instruction and training on any risks to their health which might arise from their work.

BLOOD BORNE VIRUSES - DEFINITION

Blood-borne viruses (BBVs) are viruses that some people carry in their blood and which may cause severe disease in certain people and few or no symptoms in others. The virus can spread to another person, whether the carrier of the virus is ill or not.

The main BBVs of concern are:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus and Hepatitis D virus, which all cause Hepatitis (a disease of the liver)

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) - which affects the immune system of the body

These viruses can also be found in body fluids other than blood, for example:

• semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk

• other body fluids or materials such as urine, faeces, saliva, sputum, sweat, tears and vomit carry a minimal risk of BBV infection, unless they are contaminated with blood.

NB: Care should still be taken as the presence of blood is not always obvious.