Latin America - Policy and Legislation

to protect healthcare workers from occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens 

Regional summary: To date, Brazil is the only country in Latin America that has promulgated a regulation (NR 32) specifically requiring the use of safety-engineered devices to reduce the risk of needlestick injuries and blood exposures to healthcare workers. However, an effective date for the regulation was not specified when it was issued; this circumstance, along with the relatively narrow selection of safety-engineered devices currently available in Brazil, has limited the impact of the regulation thus far.

The Center is currently conducting a country-by-country search looking for relevant occupational safety and health policies or guidelines regarding the protection of healthcare workers from occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens.

If you are aware of pertinent policies or guidelines related to healthcare worker safety or occupational exposure prevention in any countries in this region, please send information here.

- Policy and legislation, by country: 

• Brazil:
  • NR 32 - Seguranca e Saude No Trabalho Em Servicos de Saude [Work Safety and Health in Health Services]. Approved by Administrative Rule no. 485 on November 11, 2005
    
  • http://www.mte.gov.br/legislacao/normas_regulamentadoras/default.asp