Sharps safety

Sharps safety: important risks

• • High concern for Kaiser

• Risk of bloodborne pathogens transmission

  • awareness of pre-operative risk for bloodborne pathogens

• Having to fill out sharps reporting paperwork

OR Needle stick precautions

• • Be mindful of sharps on field

    • location of sharps 

    • communication when passing sharps

    • Sharps still on field after final count

  • Careful placement of hands

    • retracting, suturing, assisting

    • Avoid using manual techniques when possible

      • loading and unloading needles and sutures

  • Use of neutral sharps zone

  • No recapping of needles or use of one handed technique

  • Orienting sharps safely

    • protecting sutures when handing

    • pointing sharps away from people

  • Visual inspection of sharps on field during cleanup and disposal 

    • communication of sharps that may not be seen

  • Double gloving may help prevent accidental sharps incidents

Sharps disposal

• • dispose of sharps in puncture resistant designated sharps containers

    • timely fashion

  • important to keep track of sharps used during procedures and ensure proper location and disposal

  • Rapid reporting of full sharps containers to EVS to allow for proper sharps disposal