The purpose of the standard is to prevent exposure to blood or other infectious materials through engineering controls, work practices, training, and personal protective equipment. Law enforcement personnel face many situations that have the potential for exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. The consequences of such exposure can include the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and many other microorganisms capable of producing disease. Examples of such exposures include accident response, emergency childbirth, assaults, intervention in disputes, crime scene investigation, and the processing of suspects carrying weapons or intravenous needles. All employers with “occupationally exposed” employees must comply with this standard. Occupational exposure means any reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious material that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties. An exposure incident is a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, that results from the performance of an employee’s duties. An exposure incident requires follow-up medical care and evaluation, whereas a routine occupational exposure does not. If an exposure incident occurs, medical management, including collection of pertinent medical and occupational history, provision of treatment, and counseling regarding future work and personal behaviors, may reduce risk of developing disease as a result of the exposure episode. Following episodic exposure, decontamination and disinfection of the work environment, devices, equipment, and clothing or other forms of personal protective equipment can reduce subsequent risk of exposures. Proper disposal of contaminated waste has similar benefits and is mandated. 2 tables, 7 appendices