Ch19 Sharps Safety

What are sharps

Devices with sharp points/edges that can puncture skin/tissue

What does percutaneous mean?

Accidental injury through the skin involving sharps

What is the most serious type of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens?`

Percutenous injury

Where must contaminated sharps be placed?

Into puncture-resistant sharps disposal containers

What are the requirements for sharps containers?

Closeable, leak-proof, labeled/color-coded

Where should sharp containers be located?

As close as possible to the area where sharps are used

Give an example of when sharps injuries can occur during dental procedures

Passing instruments

Example of sharps injury during instrument processing

Placing instruments into ultrasonic cleaners

Examples of sharps injury at other times 

Handling contaminated sharps not properly discarded 

What are the 3 main diseases transmitted by sharps injuries?

HBV, HCV, HIV 

Risk of HBV infection Infection from contaminated blood?

22-31% if blood is HBsAg- positive and HBeAg-positive

• Vaccine available

RIsk of HCV transmission after sharps injury?

1.8%

• No vaccine

Risk of HIV transmission?

• With HIV blood = 0.3%

• With mucous membrane exposure = 0.09%

• No vaccine

What is safety culture?

Shared commitment of employer + employees toward safety 

Benefits of a safety culture?

Fewer work-related injuries, fewer exposure to pathogens

Who regulates workplace safety?

OSHA

What does OSHA require employers to  do?

Protect workers from occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens 

What does the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard require?

• Written Exposure Plan 

• PPE/ training/ HBV vaccine 

• Proper sharps disposal 

• Sharps injury log 

What is the Exposure Control Plan (ECP)?

Written plan required by OSHA to reduce/eliminate bloodborne exposure

What must the ECP include?

Documentation, employee training, PPE

How often should the ECP be revised?

Annually 

What is the Needlestick Prevention Act?

Law (2000) that amended OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

What does the Needlestick Prevention Act require?

• Involve employees in choosing safer devices

• Maintain sharps injury Log

• Use safety-engineered devices