Answer: A - The Safety Needle Act requires healthcare employers to provide needle-containing equipment that permanently resheath the needle by a single-handed method.
Currently, the primary legislation covering sharps safety is the 1999-2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. This landmark legislation updated the Office of Safety And Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, compelling employers to use work practice controls and safer needle devices that are engineered to eliminate or minimize exposure to bloodborne pathogens resulting from needlestick injuries.
As a result of the act, employers must:
Demonstrate that they are reviewing new technology that can reduce the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens by updating exposure control plans and documenting the decision-making process on implementing such technology.
Maintain a sharps injury log to track the type and brand of device used, the department or area where the incident occurred, and an explanation of the incident. The log must be maintained in a manner to protect the confidentiality of the injured employee.
Solicit input from employees responsible for direct patient care in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective safety devices and work practice controls, as part of the ongoing exposure control plan development process. Efforts to encourage staff input must be documented in the plan.
