This study evaluated individual factors relating to work and the organization, related to adherence to standard precautions for nurses working in intensive care. It was a cross-sectional study conducted in a large hospital with 178 professionals. For data collection, Likert-type psychometric scales were used. In the Adherence Scale to Standard Precautions we obtained a score of 4.45 (SD=0.27), classified as intermediate. There was a correlation when compared with the individual risk factors of the Scale of the Risk Personality (r =- 0.169, p=0.024) and the factors related to working with the barriers of the Scale for following standard precautions(r =- 0.359, p=0.000). Adherence to standard precautions among the nursing professionals was intermediate. Individual factors and factors related to work influenced the adherence to standard precautions.