According to the EORNA Best Practice for the prevention of sharps injuries, perioperative staff should make sure to reduce the risk of injuries posed by medical sharps by implementing safe sharps practices such as the use to safety-engineered devices. These measures should include: Medical devices incorporating safety engineered mechanisms Effective training for staff in their …
Keeping Compliant with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard when Using Scalpels
Sharps cuts and injuries from scalpels, suture needles, and other sharps are a significant occupational hazard for staff in hospitals and healthcare facilities, leading to long-term impacts on physical and psychological health. This is especially true for those working in Operating Rooms, which are high-pressure environments where sharps are used frequently. To combat occupational injuries, …
NHMRC’s Updated “Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare”
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is Australia’s leading organisation for health and medical research. They provide funding for thousands of research projects that have benefitted people around the world. The NHMRC’s guidelines and publications are highly regarded in medical, healthcare and allied healthcare industries. In collaboration with the Australian Commission on …
New Australia Standards AS 3825:2020 Procedures and Devices for the Removal, Containment and Disposal of Scalpel Blades
In December 2020 Standards Australia published AS 3825:2020 Procedures and devices for the removal, containment and disposal of scalpel blades from scalpel handles to replace the 1998 version, AS/NZS 3825:1998. This revision enabled the inclusion of new information and the removal of one outdated section based on the latest published data to ensure optimal safety …
Safe Practice Protects Downstream Workers Too
Sharps injuries and needlesticks are a threat that most healthcare professionals are wary of. Safety procedures are implemented with the aim to mitigate the risks involved when working with sharps. These procedures usually succeed in doing so when followed correctly by staff that use and are in direct contact with sharps. When they aren’t followed …
European Sharps Directive To Protect Healthcare Workers
Sharps directive is required to protect healthcare workers. In 2010, the European Council described sharps injuries as one of the most pertinent health and safety threats in European workplaces with an estimated 1 million injuries occurring each year. This startling number shows that sharps injuries in the healthcare industry are far more common than we …