Factors associated with occupational exposure and compliance with universal precautions in an urban school district

Factors associated with occupational exposure and universal precautions (UP ) compliance were assessed among employees in one urban school district. Ha lf of the employees surveyed reported responding to bleeding injuries and c leaning blood or other body fluids (e.g., vomit, urine) during the previous school year. Also, 1 in 4 custodians and 1 in 10 teachers/teacher's aides had direct contact with blood or body fluids without protection. In multiva riate logistic regression analyses, direct contact was most likely among se condary school employees in unpredictable situations who did not have prote ctive equipment or comply with UP. UP compliance was greater among those wh o had protective equipment available and felt self-confident. Self-confiden ce was associated with having received training or protective equipment Rou tine communications between administrators and employees, staff training, p rovision of protective equipment, and exposure incident monitoring are esse ntial to effective implementation of UP policies in schools and work settin gs where occupational exposure could occur.