XVII. SHARPS INJURY PREVENTION PLAN
Goals
To
control employee needlestick/sharps injuries.
To
comply with OSHA, state regulations, requirements for a sharps safety
program.
To
monitor sharps injury data and establish trend information.
To
establish an evaluation and implementation program for needle safety
devices.
This
plan shall be reviewed annually or more frequently based on the following;
If
it becomes apparent that the plan is deficient, incorrect, or unclear.
If
there are changes in regulations (e.g., State or Federal) or recommended
practice.
If
there are changes in technology that substantially affects the
implementation or the intent of the plan.
Sharps Injury Data Management
Data
will be collected on all employees sustaining sharps injuries where there is any
potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B virus,
hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or other identified
bloodborne pathogen.
Purpose of Data collection
The
purpose of data collection is:
To
assure employees Injuries are properly evaluated and assure that source
testing (when appropriate) and significant source test results are utilized
in appropriate employee exposure evaluations and follow-up. (see Exposure
Control Plan)
To
establish trends and provide a database for the analysis of sharps injuries.
Data can be used to identify work hazards, target high-risk work
locations or procedures where improved safety practices and education are
needed.
Source of Sharps Injury Data
Reporting
of sharps injuries and other blood/body fluid exposures is done as outlined in
the Exposure Control Plan.
It
is the responsibility of the employee to immediately report any sharps injury to
their supervisor.
It
is the responsibility of the employee’s department head to assure: 1) the
employee completes the exposure report form; 2) medical evaluation is made
available; and 3) source testing (if source is known) is done in a timely manner
according to University policy.
The
data to be collected for employee sharps injuries includes:
Employee Name
Occupation
Location
of Injury
Time
and Date of Injury
Activity
at the time of injury
Type
and brand of device
Purpose
of device
Use
of PPE when injury occurred
Notation
of signs of visible blood on device
Specific
circumstances associated with injury
Identification
of source (if known) and source status related to bloodborne diseases
Medical
evaluation data is to be maintained for a period of 30 years by the medical
provider (see Exposure control Plan).
Identify sharps devices (including traditional devices, safety, needleless, etc.)
Identify work locations with the greatest number of injuries and the devices causing the greatest number of injuries
Select alternative devices to replace those identified with sharps injuries. Conduct staff education. Implement the use if safety devices that are found to be acceptable.
Once
a device has been evaluated and determined to be appropriate for use the product
will be made available for use by all employees as applicable.
The
educational program content will consist of information on safety features of
the device and appropriate device usage. Staff education may be provided
through: 1) lectures with demonstrations/return demonstrations, 2) one on one
preceptor training, 3) vendor assisted educational programs, 4) videos with live
follow-up evaluation.
All
records related to sharps injuries, including product evaluation, education and
training on safety devices will be maintained for a period of three years as
required by OHSA regulations (Federal Register vol. 56, No 235, p. 64181).
Records will be kept in the files of the head of the department to which related
employees are assigned.
Blood
exposure data will be maintained for a period of 30 years beyond the date of
last employment as required by the OHSA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (Federal
Register vol. 56, No 235, p.64181).
Training
records shall be kept in the departments. Training records shall include 1)
summary of program contents, 2) names and qualifications of persons conducting
the training, and the names and job titles of persons attending the sessions.
Created 11/07/02 |
Modified 0/00/00 |