Good Samaritan Act

The Good Samaritan Act protects nurses and lay rescuers when they are caring for individuals outside the hospital. Nurses are held to a different standard because the nurse has received teaching on first aid. 

Multi-employer worksites should receive special attention, such as employment agencies, personnel services, home health services, independent contractors, and dentist and physicians in independent practice. The purpose of the regulation is to limit occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials, as any exposure can result in the transmission of bloodborne pathogens and can lead to disease or death. It covers all employees who can be reasonably anticipated, as the result of performing their job duties, to face contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials or body fluids. OSHA has not attempted to list all occupations where exposures could occur. Good Samaritan acts, such as assisting a co-worker with a nosebleed, would not be considered occupational exposure. 

Good Samaritan acts performed by undesignated employees are not covered by the standard, but undesignated first aid responders may want to know exposure controls anyway, to protect themselves if they voluntarily respond in the event of an emergency. 

---