The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard mandates that each facility have an Exposure Control Plan that is updated on a frequent (at least annual) basis. The following guidelines are provided by ISIPS to assist facilities in accomplishing this.
Each facility that has personnel that potentially will come in contact with human blood or other potentially infectious materials must implement a sharps safety program to evaluate the use of alternative devices to prevent sharps injuries.
The following will help facilities to appropriately implement a sharps safety program:
Review available sharps injury data for the facility and each of its departments and answer the following questions:
- What personnel were involved in the sharps injuries?
- What sharps devices were being used? \
- What were the circumstances of the sharps injuries?
- How frequent are sharps injuries?
- Determine what alternative safer sharps devices exist to replace the devices currently used. The Compendium of Infection Control Technologies can assist in product identification.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of safer sharps devices for each individual workplace setting in the department.
- Make sure that this is not a decision made by management only. OSHA mandates that non-managerial personnel MUST be included in the selection of safer sharps devices. Involve individuals from all areas of the facility that would interact with the safety product.
- The evaluations of safety products MUST be documented and be available as part of the Exposure Control Plan. Remember the Exposure Control Plan MUST be updated at least annually. Failure to document such evaluations can result in significant OSHA fines.
- Each facility should develop Safety Feature Evaluation Forms that are specific for the facility.
- Each individual on the evaluation team should fill out the appropriate Safety Feature Evaluation Form.
- As part of the Exposure Control Plan summarize what safer sharps devices were evaluated indicating why a specific device was or was not implemented. Make sure that the dates of implementation are indicated.
- Need a comprehensive list of safety products? Go to the ISIPS website safety product list for the most recent information on safety products.
