Infection Control & SafetyQuestion 442 of 484

Under Cal/OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard (§5193), the principle of 'Universal Precautions' / 'Standard Precautions' instructs the licensee to:

a.Treat as infectious only the blood of clients who have disclosed a positive infectious disease status
b.Treat ALL human blood and certain body fluids as if they were known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, HCV, and other bloodborne pathogens, regardless of the client's known status
c.Refuse service to any client who appears ill in any way
d.Apply infection-control measures only when assisting another worker, not when serving a client

Explanation

Universal Precautions, codified for California workers in Cal/OSHA §5193 (the Bloodborne Pathogens standard), require that ALL human blood and certain body fluids be treated as if infectious for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other bloodborne pathogens, regardless of what the client discloses. This is because many infected clients are asymptomatic and do not know their status, and a 'risk-rank-then-glove' approach is unsafe. Option A relies on disclosure that often is not available. Option C is discriminatory and not the rule. Option D ignores the standard's plain text, which covers worker exposure to client material.

Law Reference: Cal/OSHA §5193

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