With the growing awareness of the potentially life-threatening consequences of these these injuries, there has been a push to make safe needle devices available to replace conventional needles. Responding to labor unions, nurses organizations, and safety professionals, OSHA recently mandated that employers consider using these items in the workplace. Typically, when a hazard can not eliminated or replaced with a lower risk material or device, the first line of defense is the use of Engineering Controls, devices that function automatically and with a minimum of required user action to protect the worker. Formerly, the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard referred to Engineering Controls in the most generic of terms and there was very little that would compel an employer to institute wholesale changes in the type of equipment used in a laboratory or clinic. More than you may think.
Many laboratories handle blood and other body fluids capable of transmitting bloodborne diseases.
If, a person uses a needle to transfer blood between different containers, the laboratory is covered by the rule. And, since infection risk is not limited to the subset of microorganisms and body fluids within the scope of the OSHA Standard, the spirit, if not the letter of the law indicates the need to take a more global approach in adopting safer devices. And, even when there is no infection risk, why not prevent a puncture injury. Laboratory Managers are obligated to modify their laboratory s ECP by incorporating lab-specific rules, transmitting this information to staff, and reviewing it annually to address the use of new materials or procedures. Manufacturers websites and sales representatives may be consulted for information on safer devices.