| Percutaneous sharp injuries can change a person’s life when staff are not educated properly on a new safety device. Accrediting bodies (e.g, The Joint Commission, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) and regulatory organizations (e.g, OSHA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) may survey for sharps safety during visits to health care facilities. Key points in a survey could include review of the exposure control plan, which must be in compliance with the federal legislation and should meet the criteria established in the Needle Stick Safety and Prevention Act which was signed into law in 2001. Surveyors also may look to ensure that sharps containers are located close to the point of use and glove boxes and personal protective equipment (PPE) are placed in convenient locations. |  |
 | Other potential points in a survey include a review of policies, sharps injury logs, and documentation of safety training. Surveyors may observe use of PPE and question personnel about safety procedures. Utilizing engineering controls assist to remove the hazard from the workplace, such as the use of safety-engineered devices. Work practice controls minimize the risk of exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials by changing the method of performing a task. Administrative controls include developing policies and procedures and providing education and training on prevention of blood borne pathogen exposure. Managers can identify devices with engineering controls through contact with vendors, attending vendor displays at conferences, and professional networking. ICNC holds an Annual Spring Seminar every April inviting several vendors to connect with. Educators can plan a product fair to help personnel identify safety-engineered devices and other sharps safety products to select for an evaluation. For More Information: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6210a1.htm?s_cid=rr6210a1_e For Sharps Workbook by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention follow the link below. http://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/sharpsworkbook_2008.pdf |
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