Employers also will be required to document injuries from contaminated needles as part of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Needles and other sharp medical objects potentially carry bloodborne illnesses such as AIDS and hepatitis. Up to 800,000 people are stuck by contaminated needles each year. A switch to safer needles could prevent nearly 70,000 injuries a year, the government said. About 50 types of specially protected needles, syringes and other protective devices have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Examples are retractable needles and devices that automatically cover used needle tips.
But the American Nurses Association says just 15 percent of hospitals have adopted safer needles. A federal law already sets safety standards for needles and the prevention of bloodborne illnesses at health care facilities, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said. The new law, which takes effect next Wednesday, only will reinforce the need to use safe needles to reduce injuries and will not add enforcement teeth. But it will require employers to document injuries and to seek input from employees who use the needles. OSHA officials say they already cite employers that don't use safe needles and other devices, but investigations usually are not conducted unless a complaint is received.