Occupational blood and body fluid exposure among emergency medical service providers in the eThekwini metropole of South Africa

•Healthcare workers in developing countries are at risk of exposure to BBF.•Emergency medical care providers in Africa may be at a high risk of exposure to BBF due to the uncontrolled nature of the prehospital environment and the burden of blood borne disease.•Emergency medical care providers operating in the eThekwini metropole are at risk of exposure to BBF.