Bloodborne pathogens like AIDS and Hepatitis B and C can be transmitted by coming in contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids through broken skin and mucous membranes. This is why personnel should be informed to never compact trash with their hands because there might be needles or other sharp objects with contaminated fluids in the garbage.

Janitorial workers and healthcare workers have an increased risk of exposure due to the nature of the their jobs. When dealing with blood or any other bodily fluids you should treat it as if it’s contaminated and use all necessary precautions to avoid exposure. 

One precaution involves using the correct safety measures that will help protect you from exposure.These include PPE like gowns, eye wear and gloves. Another precaution uses engineering controls to reduce exposure risk. For example, a sharps disposal container for used needles. The objective is to reduce risk, so the more controls that are in place, the more risk is reduced so ensure you always use the proper protective equipment when dealing with blood and bodily fluids.