Health care workers are NOT at risk on the job if they follow universal precautions carefully (i.e. using personal protective gear and following protective guidelines to prevent HIV and other blood-transmitted infections). Everyday contact with an HIV-positive patient does not expose a health care worker to HIV. The main risk of HIV transmission for health care workers comes through accidental injuries from needles and other sharp instruments that may be contaminated with the virus, or other accidental exposures to HIV-contaminated blood.