Sharp Solutions: 5 Strategies for Preventing Needlestick Injuries

Needlestick injuries are among the most common injuries in the healthcare profession, yet they are highly preventable. Therefore, healthcare organizations must make preventing needlestick injuries a primary goal. Read on to discover five strategies healthcare workers can implement to prevent needlestick injuries.

Needlestick Injuries: The Hidden Hazard in Healthcare

A needlestick injury (NSI), defined as an accidental puncture of the skin by a used needle, is a prevalent risk in the healthcare profession, with 600,000 to 800,000 occurrences annually in the United States alone. Despite their inconspicuous appearance, these injuries are extremely dangerous, exposing healthcare workers to bloodborne pathogens. The consequences of such injuries can be severe, ranging from the transmission of infectious disease transmission to long-term health implications.

Occupational risks like HIV and Hepatitis B and C, though rare, pose serious threats and financial burdens associated with blood exposure.

In the United States, the annual cost of needlestick injuries is estimated to be between $118 million to $591 million.

These costs include testing, post-exposure prophylaxis, and treatment of potential infections. Additionally, there are secondary financial impacts, including those incurred through reduced productivity and heightened staff burden, as affected healthcare workers are diverted from patient care to undergo evaluation and treatment for potential needlestick injuries.

Addressing the frequency and severity of needlestick injuries is crucial for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals in patient care.

5 Strategies to Prevent Needlestick Injuries

To combat this pressing issue, it is essential to implement strategic measures. Below, we outline five key strategies designed to effectively prevent needlestick injuries, ensuring a safer healthcare environment for workers and patients alike.

1. Ensure Proper Disposal 

Proper disposal practices are one of the best ways to prevent needlestick injuries, considering 40% of needlestick injuries happen in the period after use of a needle and before disposal. In healthcare settings, this involves promptly placing used needles and sharps in designated containers to mitigate the risk of needlestick injuries.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that healthcare facilities use FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers for disposal of used needles and other sharp objects. It’s also important to ensure that these sharps disposal containers are easily accessible in all relevant areas, including patient rooms, treatment zones, and laboratories, to promote immediate disposal.

After disposing, conduct a visually inspection of the disposal bin to ensure it is securely fastened to avoid any potential spills or unintended openings that could lead to injury.

2. Implement Staff Education

Staff education is imperative to preventing needlestick injuries, as it promotes awareness, ensures adherence to safety protocols, and fosters a culture of safety among healthcare professionals.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates the completion of bloodborne pathogen training. This specialized training equips healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle situations involving potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens, reducing the likelihood of needlestick injuries.

Supplementary education can also play a role in preventing needlestick injuries by providing additional guidance on broader safety considerations. This includes education on the significance of maintaining consistent hygiene practices, infection prevention measures, and best practices when handling needles.

For instance, incorporating training on giving verbal announcements when passing needles, avoiding hand-to-hand passing of needles, and refraining from recapping needles can significantly enhance the overall safety protocols. This supplementary education ensures healthcare professionals are well-informed and possess the necessary skills to minimize needlestick injury risks while creating an environment for open communication and reassurance in safety protocols.

3. Conduct Thorough Incident Reporting

Incident reporting can be a pivotal tool in proactively preventing needlestick injuries before they occur Following a needlestick injury, workplaces are obligated by OSHA to record such incidents, especially when the sharp object is known to be contaminated with another person’s blood or potentially infectious material.

However, a study found that 51% of needlestick injuries go unreported, emphasizing the need for a more robust reporting culture to ensure comprehensive data collection and proactive measures to enhance workplace safety.

By utilizing incident reports, healthcare facilities can promptly address workplace hazards like broken or missing needle disposal bins, improper needle disposal, or needles breaking during transit. Robust incident reporting can also signal patterns and may point to larger issues within the workplace environment. If needlestick injuries are prevalent, it may signal the need for an organization to perform a root cause analysis to identify the underlying issue.

4. Eliminate Unnecessary Use of Needles

Another practical step in preventing needlestick injuries is eliminating the unnecessary use of needles. This can include using needle alternatives such as blunt tip cannulas which are less likely to penetrate skin or pierce through a container.

When needles must be used, it’s important to utilize safety needles which are engineered to enhance safety and prevent needlestick injuries. These needles often have a mechanism that either retracts or shields after use. Adopting needle alternatives and safety needles ensures a safer healthcare environment for both patients and professionals.

5. Develop a Comprehensive Needlestick Prevention and Injury Plan

Given how common needlestick injuries are, a comprehensive needlestick prevention and injury plan not only assures safeguards are in place but also helps promote a culture of safety among healthcare providers. It is important to have a clear and defined protocol for handling and disposing of needles.

In the event of an injury, it is important to have a well-structured plan for an immediate response and prompt incident reporting. This plan should include a clear procedure for administering first aid and documenting the details of the incident.

To promote a culture of safety, a thorough follow-up review for identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions is crucial. This proactive approach ensures not only the swift addressing of the injury but also serves as a valuable learning opportunity to prevent similar incidents in the future. Regular reviews and updates to the plan contribute to an adaptive and resilient safety framework.

Ready to Get Started?

Are you ready to take a proactive approach to preventing needlestick injuries? From real-time incident reporting to systematic analysis, our incident management system empowers your team to proactively identify hazards, analyze patterns, and implement swift corrective actions.

Invest in a safer future for healthcare professionals and foster a culture of safety. Schedule a demo and get started with our incident management system to help prevent needlestick injuries.