Would such measures be in compliance with the OSHA (Bloodborne Pathogens) Standard?
Response: Yes. If conscious efforts are made to decontaminate the equipment to the greatest extent feasible, proper labels are applied, employees are trained with regard to the handling of the equipment, and packaging is done in such a way that potential employee exposure is minimized, compliance would be achieved. In the scenario that you describe, it appears that the proper precautions and controls were implemented for shipping contaminated equipment. It is OSHA’s intent to protect all employees, on the packing, shipping and receiving ends, from potential exposures to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). If shipping and labeling contaminated medical equipment are done in accordance with the requirements of the standard, exposures are minimized and compliance is achieved. Paragraph (d)(2)(xiv) of the standard states that “(e)quipment which may become contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be examined prior to servicing or shipping a
