Needlestick Information
OSHA has estimated that 5.6 million workers in the health care industry and related occupations are at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. These bloodborne illnesses include hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus, and others.
An estimated 800,000 medical sharps injuries occur each year in hospitals across the country. Although a variety of workers are at risk, studies have shown that the majority of these injuries are sustained by nurses. At risk is any health care worker who handles sharp devices or equipment such as suture needles, scalpels, hypodermic needles, or other sharp devices.
Many injuries involve a number of devices that are not needles. These sharps injuries continue to be an important public health concern. In order to reduce the number of sharps injuries, it is important to reduce the number of sharp devices that are used in the workplace.
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