What Are the Standards Outlined for OSHA Needlestick Precautions?

Accidental needlesticks are a common problem among health care workers such as nurses, nurse practitioners and other health care personnel who regularly use sharp objects in the course of their daily work. The primary danger of such needlesticks is exposure to blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis C or HIV. To deal with this potential threat, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, has established standards for dealing with dangerous blood-borne pathogen exposure.

Background of OSHA's Needlestick Prevention Policy

• Based on a Federal law, the "Needlestick Prevention and Safety Act of 1970," OSHA established enforcement guidelines to assist employers in understanding how to implement safety standards for employers potentially exposed to dirty needles on the job. The OSHA standards address issues including what precautions are required of employers, needlestick reporting requirements, standard procedures for preventing needlestick injuries and post-exposure plans for when a needlestick does occur. Although the enforcement guidelines allow some difference in implementation between employers, they serve as a general standard guiding what steps are required by employers to prevent needlesticks and how to deal with them if they do occur.

OSHA's Requirements for Employers

• According to OSHA, an employer who can reasonably anticipate the potential for on-the-job needlesticks must establish a list of employees or jobs that could lead to a potential exposure to a used needle. The employer must then identify and implement a policy designed to control that risk. During the process, the employer must utilize both a safety officer and feedback from potentially exposed workers in order to ensure that a reasonable plan has been created for preventing needlesticks.

Methods of Exposure Control

• OSHA establishes the first line of defense against blood-borne pathogens to be "universal precautions." Universal precautions are those designed to isolate a worker from potential sources of exposure, such as gloves, gowns, face masks and other barriers. In addition, OSHA requires employers to utilize "engineering methods" such as needleless blood collection systems, retractable needles and any other technological approaches to preventing potential exposures. The employer must provide all potentially exposed employees with the resources to prevent exposure to blood-borne pathogens.

Other OSHA Resources

• In addition to OSHA's nationwide protocols, the agency also approves state plans. Each state has the option to establish its own safety protocols on top of OSHA's general protocols. Twenty-five states have done so. Their safety plans can be found on OSHA's website in the Resources section.