Hepatitis B: Information and Guidance in the Occupational Setting

What is it?

Hepatitis B is a bloodborne and sexually transmitted virus which causes inflammation of the liver. Many infected people have no symptoms, but others have a flu-like illness with nausea and jaundice. Hepatitis B becomes a chronic infection when the infection persists longer than six months. Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B infection.

For further information on hepatitis B click here.

Preventing infection in the occupational setting

General prevention

All healthcare workers should be immunised against hepatitis B infection and should be shown to have made a serological response to the vaccine. Universal precautions should be adhered to in the hospital setting. In other occupational groups, such as embalmers and morticians there is also an established risk and immunisation is recommended.

• Immunisation against infectious disease, Hepatitis B, Chapter 18, The Green Book. London: Department of Health - updated chapter 
• Guidance for Clinical Healthcare Workers: Protection Against Infection with Blood-borne Viruses. London: UK Health Departments, 1998
• Standard principles for preventing hospital-acquired infections. J Hosp Infect 2001;
  47 (Supplement): S21-S37

Specific to procedure

• Wear protective gloves and face masks
• Cover cuts and wounds with a waterproof dressing
• Never re-sheath needles
• Use disposable sterile needles
• Ensure all equipment is appropriately sterilised
• Wash your hands after an incident involving blood

For further details - Guidance for Clinical Healthcare Workers: Protection Against Infection with Blood-borne Viruses. London: Department of Health, March 1998

The Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) requires the employer through their occupational health services, to have an appropriate immunisation policy in place. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) requires both employers and employees to take responsibility to avoid any risk where possible e.g. safe handling and disposal of sharp implements and the use of personal protective equipment (gloves, face visors) to minimise exposure to blood or body fluids. Employees are required under COSHH to perform their own assessment of risk and to implement necessary measures to protect both themselves and others. Immunisation against the hepatitis B virus is recommended for all healthcare workers.

Specific to injury

• Immunoglobulin Handbook - Indications and dosage for normal and specific immunoglobulin preparations issued by the Health Protection Agency -

Specific occupational health guidelines

• Hepatitis B Infected Healthcare Workers: Health Service Circular; HSC 2000/020. London: NHS Exectutive, 23 June 2000
• Hepatitis B Infected Healthcare Workers: Guidance on Implementation of Health Service Circular 2000/020. London, Department of Health, 2000
• Hepatitis B infected healthcare workers and antiviral therapy. London: Department of Health, March 2007
• Health clearance for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV: New healthcare workers. London: Department of Health, March 2007

Related information

• Bloodborne Viruses and Occupational Exposure
• Definition of healthcare workers 

Last reviewed: 7 August 2009