Guidelines designed to protect workers with occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (such as HIV and hepatitis B virus). These “universal blood and body fluid precautions” (e.g., gloves, masks, and gowns), originally recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1985, were mandated by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard in 1991 for workers in all U.S. health care settings.

See: Standard and Universal Precautions Appendix