Which of the following is responsible for setting the standards for protection against bloodborne pathogens?

The organization responsible for setting the standards for protection against bloodborne pathogens is OSHA, which stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA is a regulatory agency that develops and enforces workplace safety and health regulations to ensure the safety of employees across various industries, including healthcare.

OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard specifically outlines the measures that employers must implement to protect healthcare workers from exposure to infectious materials that could be transmitted through blood or other potentially infectious fluids. This includes requirements for training, personal protective equipment, exposure control plans, and proper disposal of hazardous materials. By establishing these standards, OSHA helps to minimize the risk of occupational exposure to diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B, ensuring that workers have a safe environment in which to perform their duties.

Other options represent organizations that have different roles: HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) deals primarily with the privacy and security of healthcare information; the AMA (American Medical Association) is a professional organization that advocates for physicians and public health; and HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) oversees public health, but does not set OSHA standards. Thus, the correct emphasis on bloodborne pathogen standards is uniquely within the purview of OSHA.