Review of reports and workers' compensation claims may assist in this assessment. Anecdotal reports of near misses are also an important means of obtaining information. When situations have been identified, workers need to be involved in problem solving, implementation and evaluation of the solutions. A risk reduction program should critically evaluate all procedures that may involve exposure to blood capable of causing infection. The program should identify ways to reduce or eliminate the risk of exposure.
Educational programs are essential to support the successful implementation of the options.
However, programs that simply encourage personal responsibility for wearing appropriate protective equipment but do not examine how procedures and practices can be altered to reduce or eliminate risk frequently fail to achieve a reduction in exposures. When precautions to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens are applied to all patients and to all blood specimens, there is no need for biologic hazard warning labels on blood specimens or to identify known or suspected cases. There is an effective vaccine against Hepatitis B infection which will reduce the incidence of transmission and disease in health care workers. Vaccines are not available to prevent HIV or HCV infection. Pre-exposure immunization with Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all health care workers.