Download Project Overview - Phlebotomy Career Training

THE SHARPS INJURY
PREVENTION PROGRAM AT
[IPHLEBOTOMY CAREER TRAINING]
[Nancy Kimmel ]
[Instructor]
]
[Spring 2010]
Aims and objectives

To provide information about the sharps injury prevention program
within [insert organisation]

To ensure healthcare workers are aware of the strategies utilised
within the organisation to improve safety in relation to the use of
sharps

To ensure healthcare workers are aware of the reporting and
management processes within the organisation
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Sharps Injury Prevention Programs

A sharps injury prevention program is a systematic approach that
operates within an Occupational Health & Safety framework and
is aimed at eliminating or minimising sharps injuries to healthcare
workers in the NSW public health system

A sharps injury is any injury (either clean or contaminated) that
results in piercing of the skin by a needle, or other sharp object or
device, as a result of a work related activity
2
Program development
An effective sharps injury prevention program includes:

timely, appropriate consultation with healthcare workers

identification of foreseeable workplace hazards associated with
the use of sharps

the risk assessment of sharp devices used in clinical areas

the risk assessment of sharp devices used in other work areas
e.g. community settings, laundries, waste collection services

the implementation of appropriate control strategies

appropriate supervision of staff

appropriate education and training programs for staff
3
Current data

The number of sharps injuries reported within the organisation in
the last year (or several years) [insert]

The number of sharps injuries reported within the NSW public
health system in the last year (or several years) [insert]

The number of sharps injuries reported within the NSW public
health system (peer group equivalent) in the last year (or several
years) [insert]

Occupations, procedures, devices and settings involved with
sharps injuries are [insert]
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Discussion topics

Standard precautions

Safe handling and disposal of sharps

Routine use of sharps disposal containers

Reporting of sharps injuries / other blood or body fluid exposures

Safety-engineered sharps devices used throughout the organisation

How specific safety features operate

Product evaluation committees

Risks for acquisition of blood borne viruses

Occupational vaccination and screening

Other clinical practices

Post exposure management processes
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Standard precautions
Standard precautions:
 Are a key element of infection control principles
 Are designed to reduce the transmission of microorganisms in health care facilities
 Are based on the premise that all blood and body fluids are
potentially infectious
 Incorporate safe work practices, use of protective barriers
(including personal protective equipment) and avoidance of
sharps
6
Safe handling of sharps
 Each healthcare worker is responsible for the management
and disposal of the sharps that they use
Minimum requirements are outlined in:
 The healthcare worker registration regulations
 The NSW Health Infection Control Policy
7
Sharps disposal containers
 Sharps disposal containers must be placed near the ‘point
of use’ of sharp devices to limit the distance between their
use and disposal
 Puncture resistant containers may be used to transport
sharps for appropriate disposal in specific procedures or
settings where sharps disposal containers are unavailable
 The type of sharps disposal containers used in this
organisation are [insert type]
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Reporting sharps injuries

Clean and contaminated sharps injuries must be reported

Reporting of sharps injuries is essential for your safety and the
safety of other workers

Reporting of all sharps injuries makes a significant contribution to
the risk management process and to the process involved in
purchasing decisions

Confidentiality of personal health information is supported by a
legal and policy framework in place in NSW (NSW Health Privacy
Manual - PD2005_593)

The organisation collates all reports using [insert database]
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Post exposure management
In the event that you experience a sharps injury or other
exposure to blood or body fluids:
 Make an initial verbal report to [insert person / designation]
 Complete [insert form / database]
 Present to [insert person / department] during business
hours
 Present to [insert person / department] ‘after hours’
 Further information [is / is not] available on the intranet
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Blood borne virus acquisition

Needle stick injuries i.e. sharps injuries due to needle tips are of
particular concern to healthcare workers

The most significant risk from a needle stick injury is transmission
of a blood-borne virus (BBV), especially hepatitis B virus (HBV),
hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Estimations of seroconversion rates following a NSI from an
infectious source and in the presence of optimal circumstances
are 1.6% - 40% for HBV, 1.8% - 10% for HCV and 0.1% - 0.3% for
HIV
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Safety-engineered sharps devices

Devices used in the delivery of patient care that have engineering
features designed to prevent the device from causing a fluid
splash or a sharps injury to those involved in their use or disposal

The safety mechanism of passive devices is integrated and
remains in effect before, during and after use. Their activation is
not dependent on any action by the user and cannot be bypassed
or forgotten

The safety mechanisms of active devices require activation after
use by the user in order to render them safe
12
Specific safety devices
The following categories of safety-engineered sharps devices are
used throughout the organisation:

syringes & injection equipment
[YES / NO]

IV access insertion equipment
[YES / NO]

IV delivery systems
[YES / NO]

blood collection & phlebotomy
[YES / NO]

lancets; suture needles
[YES / NO]

surgical scalpels
[YES / NO]
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Other clinical practices
 If a risk of violence or resistance exists during any
procedure involving injection or venepuncture (or the patient
is a small child) seek assistance and consider appropriate
restraint of patient
In this organisation:
 specific teams of skilled staff to perform phlebotomy
procedures [are / are not established]
 specific IV cannulation teams [are / are not established]
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Product evaluation committees
 Such committees are convened for the purpose of
review, trial, selection and evaluation of clinical
consumables and equipment
 Representation for the duration of the selection process
is sought from HCWs responsible for direct patient care,
in those clinical settings where devices under review are
being considered for use
 Evaluation of the device includes HCW safety, impact on
patient care (quality and safety) and cost effectiveness
15
Occupational vaccination

Vaccination is available against hepatitis B and all relevant
healthcare workers must be protected in accordance with
PD2007_006

Hepatitis B vaccination is provided free to relevant healthcare
workers

Healthcare workers cannot perform exposure prone procedures
unless protected

Other vaccines are available for healthcare workers as per
PD2007_006 (see [insert department] for further information)

Vaccination is not available against hepatitis C or HIV
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Questions
Which of the following statements are true :
1. Sharps injuries are an acceptable hazard of a clinical
occupation
2. I need only report sharps injuries that have involved a
contaminated sharp object
3. Sharps injuries can only be avoided by the use of safetyengineered sharps devices
4. Sharps safety is the sole responsibility of the organisation’s
management
?
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