Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations

In order to understand the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations that have been established, it is important to know some background. The epidemic proportions and severe impact of needlestick incidents prompted United States Congressional action. As a result, the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act became law in 2000. This law revised the 1991 Bloodborne Pathogen Standard to require the use of safe medical devices when there is a risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Additional Details Regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

In early 2001, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published its revised bloodborne pathogen standard. These OSHA regulations required hospitals and other healthcare facilities to:

• Implement the safer medical devices that are appropriate, commercially available, and effective
• Document consideration and implementation of safer medical devices on an annual basis
• Obtain input for these devices from those responsible for direct patient care; this input must also be documented
• Train employees to use new devices and/or procedures and document training
• Maintain a log of injuries from contaminated sharps

Outside the United States, legislation similar to these OSHA regulations is being passed. Several Canadian provinces and European regulatory authorities are working to require the use of safety devices in the same way the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has. Healthcare workers in these and other countries may benefit from a new generation of safety products – such as manually retractable safety syringes – recently made widely available in North America.

Learn more about the OSHA regulations regarding bloodborne pathogens by visiting the OSHA website.