New data published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) provide the first published evidence that a positive safety climate and adherence to standard precautions predict key health care–associated infection (HAI) and occupational health outcomes among patients and health care workers, respectively. The findings highlight features within hospitals’ organizations and safety climates that could be modified to improve these outcomes. “Despite the infection prevention and safety benefits associated with standard precautions, generating consistent adherence […]

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently took a major first step toward developing its anticipated standard regarding violence in the healthcare setting, titled “Prevention of Workplace Violence in Healthcare and Social Assistance.” On March 1, 2023, OSHA convened a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel—an initial step in formulating a new standard that gives representatives of small businesses and small local government entities an opportunity for input. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration […]

Following an incident in which a clerk was told to clean up spilled blood from an injured customer, Rite Aid Corp. must now implement a safety program to better protect employees against hazards related to bloodborne pathogens at its 370 stores in New Jersey and New York. The move is in accordance with an agreement with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration following an investigation into the 2022 incident at a Rite Aid store […]

Drug delivery device designers must consider patient capability in home environments rather than the typical devices engineered for healthcare professionals. Needlestick injuries have fallen 30% since implementation of the U.S. Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (NSPA) in 2001, but sharps injuries still remain a major occupational hazard. Every year, hospital-based healthcare personnel endure 320,000 needlestick injuries and other sharps-related injuries, roughly 1,000 sharps injuries per day. And, as self-administration in non-clinical settings continues to climb, […]

Each year, it is estimated that there are approximately 3 million workplace exposures to bloodborne pathogens, risking employee health, not to mention costing employers millions of dollars. Despite this statistic, it is a common train of thought that bloodborne pathogens aren’t something people usually need to be worried about. While bloodborne pathogens can be deadly, they are not airborne or infectious through touch. Rather, bloodborne exposures are commonly due to accidental punctures in most work […]

When it comes to healthcare, the safety of both patients and healthcare workers is paramount. One often overlooked but critical aspect of healthcare safety is the proper disposal of sharps. Sharps injuries, which include needle sticks and cuts from other sharp medical instruments, can have serious consequences for everyone involved. As a responsible medical waste disposal company, Waste Medic is here to shed light on this important issue and help you understand why it’s crucial […]

Per the CDC, a sharps injury is a penetrating stab wound from a needle, scalpel, or another sharp object that may result in exposure to blood or other body fluids. This can include scalpels, razors, needles, lancets, blades, broken glass or any other sharp implement. The CDC knows there are many needle sticks and sharps injuries that occur during a year in hospitals and healthcare facilities, with over half of them unreported. Most happen innocently, like when nurses […]

Healthcare organizations are recommended to develop a safety culture to promote both patient and occupational well-being. Safety culture is defined as the product of an individual and group values, perceptions, competencies, attitudes, and patterns of behavior that result in the commitment to, understanding, and proficiency of an organization’s health and safety management. Positive safety cultures are predicated on mutual trust and shared perceptions of the importance of safety as well as confidence in the efficacy […]

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has received multiple reports of potential and actual needlestick injuries involving romosozumab-aqqg (Evenity), risking the transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), or HIV to health care providers and patients. Romosozumab is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in patients who are intolerant of or have failed other available osteoporosis therapies and for postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture. The […]

In healthcare settings, the safety and well-being of healthcare workers are paramount. One overlooked area of concern is the occurrence of needlestick and sharps injuries. These incidents, often a consequence of mishandling medical waste, pose a significant health risk to healthcare professionals. This comprehensive guide aims to provide a thorough understanding of needlestick and sharps injuries, their implications, and practical steps for their prevention. Understanding Needlestick & Sharps Injuries A needlestick injury is a percutaneous […]