Engineering and Work Practice Controls

Employers must select and implement appropriate engineering and work practice controls in situations where occupational exposures to blood or other potentially infectious materials may occur.

The objective of engineering controls and work practice controls is the same: to reduce or minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The difference between the two types of controls is that one isolates or removes the hazard from the workplace, while the other reduces the risk of exposure by altering how tasks are performed. Definitions and examples of each type of control are:

Engineering Controls

Work Practice Controls
Controls that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace. Controls that reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task is performed.
Examples: sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing needles, safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered sharps injury protections and needleless systems Example: Prohibiting recapping of needles by a two-handed technique.

OSHA gives precedence to engineering controls, where feasible, over work practice controls, as stated in a November 1999 compliance directive, Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens (OSHA CPL 2-2.44D):

"Where engineering controls will reduce employee exposure either by removing, eliminating, or isolating the hazard, they must be used."

NOTE: Employers are not responsible for providing sharps containers for employees who use or produce contaminated sharps or other materials for personal medical reasons, such as diabetic employees who use insulin syringes and blood test strips. The employer should, however, strongly insist that the employee bring his or her own sharps container to work to eliminate potential exposures to other workers.