Chemical Safety

how to clean up blood spills osha

chemical safetyhow to clean up blood spills osha, disinfectant is used when treating a blood or opim spill, a blood spill has occurred at work

How to Clean Up Blood Spills at Work (OSHA) — Chemical Safety Guide

When a blood spill has occurred at work, the response needs to be fast, consistent, and compliant. Blood can carry infectious organisms, and cleanup may involve chemical disinfectants that must be selected, used, and documented correctly. From a chemical safety perspective, blood cleanup sits at the intersection of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and hazard communication requirements for the disinfectants and related products used under OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

This guide explains how to clean up blood spills OSHA expectations align with, what supplies to use, and how to manage disinfectant Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and training to keep workers protected.

OSHA Standards That Apply to Blood Spill Cleanup

OSHA doesn’t provide one single “blood spill cleanup” procedure, but it does require employers to implement protections and plans that cover these events.

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)

This standard requires employers to:

  • Identify job classifications and tasks with occupational exposure
  • Implement an Exposure Control Plan
  • Use engineering controls, work practice controls, and PPE
  • Provide Hepatitis B vaccination (when applicable)
  • Ensure proper housekeeping, regulated waste handling, and decontamination
  • Provide employee training and maintain required records

Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)

Blood itself is addressed under 1910.1030, but the cleaning chemicals used to decontaminate surfaces are covered under HazCom. That means:

  • Disinfectants and related products must have accessible SDS
  • Employees must be trained on chemical hazards, safe use, and PPE
  • Containers must be properly labeled

Important: The cleanup chemicals you choose can create hazards (corrosivity, respiratory irritation, incompatibilities). OSHA expects workers to have SDS access and training before use.

First Response: What to Do When a Blood Spill Has Occurred at Work

When a blood spill is discovered, treat it as potentially infectious and control the area.

Step 1: Secure the scene and assess exposure risk

  • Restrict access (use cones, tape, signage)
  • Identify the size and location (floor, porous surface, equipment)
  • Determine if sharps may be present (broken glass, needles)

Step 2: Put on the right PPE

OSHA requires PPE appropriate to the anticipated exposure. Typical bloodborne pathogen cleanup PPE includes:

  • Disposable medical-grade gloves (double-gloving for larger spills)
  • Eye protection/face shield if splashes are possible
  • Fluid-resistant gown or apron if contamination is likely
  • Mask/respiratory protection if required by product SDS or aerosol risk

Step 3: Use a spill kit and keep sharps out of hands

If sharps are present:

  • Never pick up sharps by hand
  • Use tongs, forceps, or a brush and dustpan
  • Dispose into an approved sharps container

Cleanup Procedure: Bloodborne Pathogen Cleanup Step-by-Step

A consistent process helps reduce exposure and supports OSHA compliance.

Step 1: Remove visible blood with absorbent materials

  1. Cover the spill with absorbent (pads, towels, or solidifier)
  2. Allow it to soak or gel as directed by the spill kit
  3. Collect material with disposable tools where possible
  4. Place waste into a properly lined bag (often red biohazard bag depending on your regulated waste determination)

Step 2: Clean the surface before disinfecting

Disinfectants work best after gross contamination is removed.

  • Wash with detergent/cleaner and water if applicable
  • Use disposable wipes/mops when possible
  • Avoid splashing and aerosolizing liquids

Step 3: Disinfect using an appropriate product and dwell time

A common compliance question is: “What disinfectant is used when treating a blood or OPIM spill?” Under OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens framework, employers must use an effective disinfectant and follow manufacturer instructions.

Typically accepted options include:

  • EPA-registered disinfectants with bloodborne pathogen claims (often hospital-grade)
  • A properly prepared bleach solution (sodium hypochlorite) when appropriate for the surface and workplace policy

Key requirements:

  • Follow label directions exactly (concentration, application, and contact/dwell time)
  • Ensure ventilation is adequate
  • Confirm surface compatibility (bleach can corrode metals and damage fabrics)
  • Never mix disinfectants (e.g., bleach with ammonia or acids)

Step 4: Dispose of waste correctly

OSHA’s 1910.1030 includes requirements for regulated waste handling and containment. Your waste classification depends on the material and saturation level, state rules, and employer policy.

  • Place contaminated absorbents and PPE into appropriate labeled bags/containers
  • Seal bags to prevent leakage
  • Handle regulated waste per your Exposure Control Plan

Step 5: Remove PPE safely and perform hand hygiene

  • Remove gloves last where feasible
  • Avoid touching face/skin with contaminated gloves
  • Wash hands immediately with soap and water
  • If handwashing facilities aren’t available, use antiseptic towelettes temporarily and wash as soon as possible

Special Surfaces and Situations

Porous materials (carpet, fabric, upholstery)

  • Blot and remove as much as possible
  • Use an approved disinfectant compatible with the material
  • If saturation is heavy, removal and disposal of affected porous material may be required

Equipment and electronics

  • Follow manufacturer cleaning guidance
  • Use disinfectant wipes approved for electronics where possible
  • Ensure lockout/tagout or power disconnection if there’s electrical risk

Large spills or repeated incidents

If the spill is large, involves extensive contamination, or your team is not trained/equipped, consider using trained remediation professionals. OSHA expects employers to prevent employees from performing tasks outside their training and protection.

Training, Documentation, and SDS Access (Where Chemical Safety Matters Most)

Blood cleanup programs often fail not because workers don’t care, but because documentation and access are inconsistent—especially across shifts and locations.

To align with 29 CFR 1910.1030 and 29 CFR 1910.1200, employers should maintain:

  • Written Exposure Control Plan and housekeeping procedures
  • Training records for bloodborne pathogens and disinfectant hazards
  • PPE selection and availability documentation
  • Up-to-date SDS for each disinfectant, cleaner, and spill kit chemical component

How SwiftSDS supports compliant blood spill response

Disinfectants used in bloodborne pathogen cleanup are still chemicals—meaning their SDS must be readily accessible and employees must know how to use them safely. SwiftSDS helps by:

  • Keeping a centralized SDS library for disinfectants, detergents, and related products
  • Supporting OSHA Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200) compliance with fast SDS access
  • Enabling mobile access so workers can pull up the SDS on-site during a spill response
  • Helping manage related chemical inventory (what disinfectants are on hand, where they’re stored, and expiration dates)

This reduces delays, prevents the use of expired or incorrect products, and supports consistent training and hazard awareness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Blood Spill Cleanup

  • Using disinfectant without reading label/SDS (wrong dilution or dwell time)
  • Skipping eye/face protection when splashing is possible
  • Reusing contaminated mops or rags without proper decontamination
  • Mixing chemicals (dangerous fumes and reactions)
  • Improper waste segregation or unlabeled bags
  • No documentation that procedures and training meet OSHA expectations

If cleanup involves any chemical with respiratory hazards, ensure the SDS is reviewed and respiratory protection is addressed through your OSHA respiratory protection program (29 CFR 1910.134) when applicable.

Call to Action: Make Blood Spill Cleanup Safer and Easier

Blood spills are stressful, but your response doesn’t have to be improvised. Build a clear procedure, train employees, and ensure disinfectant SDS are always available.

Ready to strengthen your chemical safety and spill-response readiness? Explore how SwiftSDS can organize your disinfectant SDS, improve mobile access, and support OSHA-aligned hazard communication. Visit SwiftSDS SDS Management to get started.