pathogens nor is there any chance of developing

HBV from the vaccine. 

The vaccine must be administered according to

the recommendations of the U.S. Public Health

Service (USPHS) current at the time the procedure

takes place. To ensure immunity, it is important

for individuals to complete the entire course of

vaccination contained in the USPHS recommendations.

The great majority of those vaccinated will develop immunity to the hepatitis B virus. The vaccine

causes no harm to those who are already immune

or to those who may be HBV carriers. Although

workers may desire to have their blood tested 

for antibodies to see if vaccination is needed,

employers cannot make such screening a condition

of receiving vaccination and employers are not

required to provide prescreening.

Employers must ensure that all occupationally

exposed workers are trained about the vaccine

and vaccination, including efficacy, safety, method

of administration, and the benefits of vaccination.

They also must be informed that the vaccine and

vaccination are offered at no cost to the worker.

The vaccination must be offered after the worker

is trained and within 10 days of initial assignment

to a job where there is occupational exposure,

unless the worker has previously received the

vaccine series, antibody testing has revealed that

the worker is immune, or the vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons. The employer must

obtain a written opinion from the licensed healthcare professional within 15 days of the completion

of the evaluation for vaccination. This written

opinion is limited to whether hepatitis B vaccination is indicated for the worker and if the worker

has received the vaccination.

Any workers who have reasonably anticipated

contact with blood or OPIM during performance

of their jobs are considered to have occupational

exposure and to be at risk of being infected.

Workers infected with HBV face a risk for liver 

ailments which can be fatal, including cirrhosis 

of the liver and primary liver cancer. A small 

percentage of adults who get hepatitis B never

fully recover and remain chronically infected. In

addition, infected individuals can spread the virus

to others through contact with their blood and

other body fluids.

An employer must develop an exposure control

plan and implement use of universal precautions

and control measures, such as engineering controls,

work practice controls, and personal protective

equipment to protect all workers with occupational exposure. In addition, employers must

make hepatitis B vaccination available to these

workers. Hepatitis B vaccination is recognized as

an effective defense against HBV infection.

HBV Vaccination 

The standard requires employers to offer the 

vaccination series to all workers who have 

occupational exposure. Examples of workers 

who may have occupational exposure include,

but are not limited to, healthcare workers, 

emergency responders, morticians, first-aid 

personnel, correctional officers and laundry

workers in hospitals and commercial laundries

that service healthcare or public safety institutions.

The vaccine and vaccination must be offered at

no cost to the worker and at a reasonable time

and place. 

The hepatitis B vaccination is a non-infectious,

vaccine prepared from recombinant yeast cultures,

rather than human blood or plasma. There is no

risk of contamination from other bloodborne

FactSheet

Hepatitis B Vaccination Protection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a pathogenic microorganism that can cause potentially lifethreatening disease in humans. HBV infection is transmitted through exposure to

blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), as defined in the OSHA

Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030. 
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

Declining the Vaccination

Employers must ensure that workers who decline

vaccination sign a declination form. The purpose

of this is to encourage greater participation in the

vaccination program by stating that a worker declining the vaccination remains at risk of acquiring

hepatitis B. The form also states that if a worker

initially declines to receive the vaccine, but at a

later date decides to accept it, the employer is

required to make it available, at no cost, provided

the worker is still occupationally exposed. 

Additional Information

For more information, go to OSHA’s Bloodborne

Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and

Health Topics web page at: https://www.osha.gov/

SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html.

To file a complaint by phone, report an emergency,

or get OSHA advice, assistance, or products, contact your nearest OSHA office under the “U.S.

Department of Labor” listing in your phone book, or

call us toll-free at (800) 321-OSHA (6742). 

Occupational Safety

and Health Administration

www.osha.gov 1-800-321-6742

For assistance, contact us. We can help. It’s confidential.

DSG 1/2011