{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-health-and-safety-code-81.301","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Health and Safety Code § 81.301","heading":"DEFINITIONS.","body":"In this subchapter:\n(1) \"Bloodborne pathogens\" means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and that can cause diseases in humans. The term includes hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus.\n(2) \"Engineered sharps injury protection\" means:\n(A) a physical attribute that is built into a needle device used for withdrawing body fluids, accessing a vein or artery, or administering medications or other fluids and that effectively reduces the risk of an exposure incident by a mechanism such as barrier creation, blunting, encapsulation, withdrawal, retraction, destruction, or another effective mechanism; or\n(B) a physical attribute built into any other type of needle device, into a nonneedle sharp, or into a nonneedle infusion safety securement device that effectively reduces the risk of an exposure incident.\n(3) \"Governmental unit\" means:\n(A) this state and any agency of the state, including a department, bureau, board, commission, or office;\n(B) a political subdivision of this state, including any municipality, county, or special district; and\n(C) any other institution of government, including an institution of higher education.\n(4) \"Needleless system\" means a device that does not use a needle and that is used:\n(A) to withdraw body fluids after initial venous or arterial access is established;\n(B) to administer medication or fluids; or\n(C) for any other procedure involving the potential for an exposure incident.\n(5) \"Sharp\" means an object used or encountered in a health care setting that can be reasonably anticipated to penetrate the skin or any other part of the body and to result in an exposure incident, including a needle device, a scalpel, a lancet, a piece of broken glass, a broken capillary tube, an exposed end of a dental wire, or a dental knife, drill, or bur.\n(6) \"Sharps injury\" means any injury caused by a sharp, including a cut, abrasion, or needlestick.\nAdded by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1411, Sec. 26.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.","path":["HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE","TITLE 2. HEALTH","SUBTITLE D. PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND REPORTS OF DISEASES; PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES","CHAPTER 81. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES; PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTERS; PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES","SUBCHAPTER H. BLOODBORNE PATHOGEN EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.81.htm#81.301","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:17Z","sha256":"15aadbfbc5faf452f32b066b7857c5d74ba74e1e8b8841acacd4d099ae804636","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-health-and-safety-code-81.212","next":"us-tx/tex.-health-and-safety-code-81.302"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}