This document discusses needle stick and sharps injuries, including: - Hundreds of thousands of needle stick injuries occur each year in healthcare settings. - The pathogens of most concern that can be transmitted through sharps injuries are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. - Common devices that cause injuries include needles, scalpels, and IV delivery systems. - Proper sharps safety practices include being prepared, being aware of one's surroundings during procedures, and carefully disposing of and cleaning up sharps.

1. Needle Stick
&
Sharps Exposure
Prevention
Self-Learning Packet

2. How Many Needle Stick Injuries
• The Department of Health Services
reported that 600,000 to 800,000 needle stick
injuries occur each year
• A CDC study estimated that 385,000
occur in the hospital (>1,000/day)
• ~5% of these were technologists
That is 52 injuries a day!
www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t000622a.html and NaSH 1995-Dec 2003
https://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/ppt/2preventingneedlesticksparti.ppt

3. What Infections Can Be Caused
by Sharps Injuries?
• More than 20 bloodborne pathogens
• The pathogens that pose the most serious
health risks are:
-Hepatitis B virus (HBV) –
-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) –
-Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

4. What Kinds of Devices Usually
Cause Sharps Injuries?
• Hypodermic needles
• Blood collection needles
• Needles used in IV delivery systems
• Scalpels

6. Based on the Prior CDC Slide
Needle Injuries Occur….
• 35% During sharps clean up and disposal
• 28% Manipulating needle in patient
• 10% Colliding with co-worker
• 0.6% Recapping needle
Did you notice?
35% happens AFTER the procedure during clean
up and disposal

7. Sharps Safety
• Prepare to use the device the
moment the sharp is first opened
• Take precautions while using sharps
• Take precautions during cleanup
• Take precautions during disposal
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

8. Sharps Safety Practices
• Be Prepared
• Be Aware
• Dispose with Care
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

9. Be Prepared
Before Beginning a Procedure
• Wash Hands and Wear Gloves
• Organize equipment at point of use
• Use needleless systems when appropriate
• Use adequate lighting
• Keep sharps pointed away from the user
• Plan ahead- Have sharps disposal nearby
• Assess the patient’s ability to cooperate
• Get help if necessary
• Ask the patient to avoid sudden movement
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

10. Be Aware
During a Procedure
• Keep sharps visible
• Avoid distractions
• Never hand off or leave needles or sharps for others to dispose
• Loudly sate “Sharps” when handling sharps
• Maintain a safe zone around sharps being used
• Always activate the safety device on needles immediately
after each use
• Be aware of staff nearby
• Control the location of sharps to avoid injury
• Use predetermined neutral zone for placing/retrieving sharps
• Do not hand-pass exposed sharps from person to person
• Alert others when sharps are being passed
SCPNC.MCW-ADM.128 and www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety and

11. Be Aware
During a Procedure continued….
• Activate injury prevention safety feature of device
(e.g. retraction)
• Observe audible or visual cues that confirm
the safety feature is locked in place
• Do not bend* or break needles
• Do not recap* needles/scalpels
*Exception: contaminated sharps may be bent, recapped or removed from devices if the procedure is
performed using a mechanical device or one-handed technique AND no alternative is feasible or is required by a
specific medical procedure SCPMC.MCW-IP.063

12. Be Aware
During a Procedure continued….
• A stationary needle cap holder must be used for
incremental doses of medication to the same patient MCW-IP.063
• Contaminated sharps that are reusable are to be placed
immediately after use into designated holder (Shortstop™)
and should be handled using some type of tong
(hemostat/forceps) or device SCPNC.MCW-IP.063
• Do not remove needles from Shortstop™
before disposing in sharps container
• Plan for safe handling and disposal of sharps
before using them

13. Clean up and Dispose with Care
During Cleanup
• Be accountable for sharps you use
• Do not disassembled needles from
syringes by hand prior to disposal
• Use hemostat/forceps to move items
when uncovering/checking procedure trays,
waste materials, and bedding for exposed
sharps
• Look for sharps/equipment left
behind inadvertently
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

14. Clean Up and Dispose with Care
While Disposing of Sharps
• Inspect container
• Keep hands behind sharps
• Never put hands or fingers into sharps
container
• If you dispose sharps with attached tubing be
aware that it can recoil and lead to injury
• Maintain control of both tubing and the
device during disposal
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

15. Clean Up and Dispose with Care
After Disposing of Sharps
• Visually inspect sharps container for overfilling
• Replace containers when no more than ¾ full
SCPMC.MCW-IP.063
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

16. Clean Up and Dispose with Care
If you Find improperly Disposed
Sharps in Work Environment
• Handle Carefully
• Keep hands behind sharps at all times
• Use mechanical device (e.g. tong/hemostat)
if you cannot safety pick up sharps by hand
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

17. Your Part in Prevention
• Adhere to safe practices
• Support co-workers in safety practices
• Report injuries or blood/body fluid exposures,
sharps injury hazards, and near misses
• Participate in training for devices and properly
use sharps safety features
• Participate in safe culture and
device evaluation
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

18. The Diagnostic Imaging
Safety Bee says:
“Don’t get stung
by a workplace injury...
be A.W.A.R.E.!”
BE SAFE
E
Expect zero
injuries
A
Allow
enough time
A
Assess the
situation
W
Watch for
hazards
R
Rely on
others
Be
A.W.A.R.E.!
ASSESS – assess the situation to determine the safest manner in which to
perform the job or task. Determine what tools or equipment may be needed
before you proceed.
WATCH – watch for hazards and anything out of the ordinary that might
compromise yours or your patient’s safety. Make sure nothing is obstructing
your work area or your workflow.
ALLOW – allow enough time to perform the job in a safe manner; don’t rush.
Work efficiently but never compromise yours or your patient’s safety to save
time.
RELY – rely on others to assist you if needed to perform the job safely; ask for
help. Don’t attempt to do the job by yourself if a team approach is better and
safer.
EXPECT – expect zero injuries; expect that you can reach our workplace
safety goal and expect a positive outcome. Challenge yourself to never get
stung by a workplace injury.

19. Your Part in Prevention
• Tell your employer about any sharps hazards
you observe
• Participate in training related to infection
prevention
• Get a Hepatitis B vaccination
• Wear gloves
• Wash Hands
Sharps fall under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030.