Under the United States Department of Labor, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the standard interpretation for the Needlestick Safety Act expresses the mandatory nature of safety-engineered sharps devices inside pre-packaged surgical kits being sold to surgeons, physician specialists, and other healthcare professionals who deal with the regular exposure to blood. The standards and regulations set by OSHA, and built into the medical act, specifically highlights the need for engineering controls.
The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act
The Needlestick Safety Act covers exposure, in any healthcare setting. to bloodborn pathogens – it lays out protocols for safety measures in the medical workplace. Whenever there’s occupational exposure to blood or potentially infectious materials, managing staff is required to consistently evaluate needle workflow and injury protection. All surgical facilities want to minimize exposure to unprotected and contaminated sharps.
Needlestick and the Law
Under 29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(v), employees should have access to sharps with engineered sharps injury protection or SESIPs, and a feedback on procedures and devices is paramount. Amended and passed by the House in October of 2000 in H.R. 5178, the Act places accountability standards on employers when reviewing exposure control plans. After careful consideration, they are also encouraged to provide fair assessments on the viability of the medical devices in use.
The Act encourages injury report logging and any proposed changes to work practice controls. Sharp Fluidics Operative Armour suture needle system helps physicians stay compliant. Visit their website for more information about reducing injury potential.
