Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing and updating the Health and Safety Executive guidance on blood borne virus transmission.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the regulator of workplace health and safety, publishes guidance to assist employers in controlling workplace risk from blood-borne

viruses. There are no plans at present to review this guidance.

HSE’s approach is led by intelligence to ensure that resources are appropriately allocated to any risk. Should evidence emerge to suggest an increased risk of blood borne virus

transmission in the workplace, HSE will consider an appropriate response, which may

include a review of existing guidance.