Manage blood-borne virus exposure by finding where workers could contact blood or blood-contaminated items, removing or isolating those hazards where possible, and supporting the controls with safe procedures, training, suitable equipment and a tested exposure response.
For builders and tradies, the risk may arise from discarded needles, waste, sewer or drain work, blood spills, first aid, violence or an injury where another person's blood contacts broken skin, the eyes, nose or mouth.
Information current: 7 August 2026. Local requirements vary, so check current regulator material for your jurisdiction and industry. National model Codes, where referenced, provide general orientation and are not automatically applicable law in every jurisdiction.
Where exposure can happen
Blood-borne viruses include hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Workplace transmission can occur through a needlestick or other sharps injury, or when infected blood contacts broken skin or a mucous membrane.
Construction-related examples include:
- needles hidden in gardens, wall cavities, bins, toilets or abandoned buildings
- sharp objects in demolition waste or rubbish bags
- plumbers and maintenance workers contacting sewage or blood-contaminated waste
- workers cleaning amenities, vehicles, tools or surfaces after an incident
- first aiders treating a bleeding worker
- blood exposure during an assault or site disturbance.
Do not assume that every body substance presents the same risk. Plan around the actual exposure route while treating blood and visibly blood-contaminated material as potentially infectious.
What to sort out before work starts
Review the job, workplace history and expected conditions. Identify who could encounter sharps, blood, waste or contaminated equipment, including subcontractors, cleaners and first aiders.
Before work begins, agree on:
- how the hazard will be reported, isolated and removed
- who is authorised and equipped to collect a discarded sharp
- the location of sharps containers, spill kits, handwashing facilities and first aid supplies
- suitable gloves, eye protection and other task-specific PPE
- waste handling, cleaning and disposal arrangements
- immediate first aid, medical referral and incident reporting steps
- who coordinates the response when several contractors share the workplace.
Workers should know the procedure before exposure occurs. For roles with an identified occupational risk, consider an appropriate hepatitis B vaccination program as part of the wider control system. Vaccination complements other controls; it does not replace them.
Controls and documents that should support the work
Use the hierarchy of controls. Avoid disturbing suspect waste where the work can be redesigned. Isolate affected areas, use a specialist waste service where appropriate, and provide mechanical collection tools such as tongs or a long-handled grabber. Never reach blindly into bins, bags, cavities or debris.
Sharps should be handled as little as possible and placed directly into a suitable sharps container. Do not recap, bend, break or manually manipulate a used needle. PPE should suit the task, fit the worker and be supported by instruction on use, removal and disposal.
The supporting WHS documents commonly include:
- a risk assessment or job hazard analysis
- a safe work procedure for sharps, spills, cleaning or waste
- site induction and toolbox talk records
- an emergency or exposure-response plan
- incident, investigation and corrective-action records
- training, inspection and control-review records.
Documents should state responsibilities, required equipment, hygiene arrangements, reporting steps and where prompt medical assessment can be obtained. They should also protect the confidentiality of personal medical information.
When a SWMS or site-specific document applies
A blood-borne virus hazard does not, by itself, decide whether a SWMS is required. A SWMS commonly applies when the work is high-risk construction work under the requirements applying in that jurisdiction. If the relevant task requires a SWMS, include the exposure hazard and controls where they form part of that work.
For other tasks, a site-specific risk assessment, safe work procedure or exposure-response plan may be the practical document. Principal contractors and site rules may also require additional task documentation.
If an exposure occurs
Act immediately. Flush a puncture wound under running water, rinse exposed eyes, mouth or nose with plenty of water, remove contaminated clothing and arrange medical advice as soon as possible. Follow the site response plan, record the incident and preserve privacy.
After the immediate response, investigate what happened with affected workers and relevant health and safety representatives. Review the equipment, procedure, supervision and training, then record and close out corrective actions.
Warning signs that controls need attention
Warning signs include overflowing sharps containers, loose rubbish handled by hand, missing spill kits, workers unaware of the response process, unsuitable gloves or eye protection, uncontrolled access to contaminated areas, repeated near misses, and exposure incidents without investigation or follow-up.
How Blue Safe can help
Blue Safe provides compliant WHS documents tailored to the client's activities, applicable Australian WHS/OHS requirements, jurisdiction and industry. This can include risk assessments, safe work procedures, SWMS where applicable, emergency arrangements, incident processes and supporting registers.
Blue Safe guarantees the document compliance of the WHS documents it provides, including eligible customer documents after Blue Safe has reviewed and upgraded them. Customers actively put the compliant documents into practice through controls, consultation, training, actions, records and evidence. This creates a practical connection between the written system and the way work is planned, supervised and reviewed on site.