Disinfectants for blood spills on hard surfaces and carpet

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

May 6, 1994

Edward A Schmidt, MPH, CIC
Environmental Microbiologist/
Environmental Sanitarian
The ServiceMaster Company
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Schmidt:

This is in response to your letter of December 17, 1993, requesting clarification of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030, "Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens." We apologize for the delay in this response. We also thank you for forwarding your decontamination/disinfection information to our staff for review.

Specifically, you inquired about decontamination of plush carpet and hard surfaces after a Blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) spill has occurred. Under 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii), OSHA requires that equipment and surfaces be cleaned and disinfected after contact with blood or OPMI. It is the employer's responsibility to determine and implement an appropriate written schedule for cleaning and the method of decontamination based on the location within a facility, the type of surface to be cleaned, the type of spill present and the tasks or procedures being performed in the area.

Paragraph 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii)(A) states that "...an appropriate disinfectant..." shall be used for decontamination of work surfaces contaminated with blood or OPIM. The current OSHA policy regarding acceptability of disinfectants used for this purpose is stated in the Inspection and Citation Guidelines following paragraph M.d.(1)(b) on page 34 of OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.44C, "Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030." This policy indicates that products registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with claims of tuberculocidal efficacy are considered "appropriate" for purposes of compliance with the standard, and would therefore be acceptable for such use. OSHA recognized EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectants as acceptable for decontamination as well as bleach diluted between 1:10 or 1:100 with water. The OSHA policy to require use of tuberculocidal disinfectants has remained the same for hard surfaces. OSHA continues to require the use of a tuberculocidal disinfectant to clean up blood or body fluids. The use of quaternary ammonium compounds which have not been registered with EPA as tuberculocidal germicides is appropriate for housekeeping procedures which do not involve the clean-up of contaminated (defined as the presence or reasonably anticipated presence of blood or OPIM) surfaces. For surfaces contaminated with blood or OPIM, you should note that there are some quaternary ammonium compounds which are registered with EPA as tuberculocidal germicides. For a complete listing of such germicides, you can call Texas Technical University on (800) 438-4318. The University has a contract with EPA to answer questions related to the germicidal list.

Regarding your concern for carpet decontamination, OSHA does not have any evidence to support whether decontamination of plush carpets is possible; it is our opinion that carpeted surfaces cannot be decontaminated. However, under normal circumstances, carpeted surfaces are located in areas where there is minimal exposure from dermal contact, therefore, employers are expected to make a reasonable effort to clean and sanitize carpeting and soft plush surfaces with carpet detergent/cleaner products.

We hope this information is responsive to your concerns and thank you for your interest in safety and health.

Sincerely,
H. Berrien Zettler, Deputy Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]