7 5
A P R I L 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
S H A R P S S A F E T Y
the devices. That's an OSHA requirement and a good idea. Staff are
the ones who'll know if new options outperform the products you're
already using.
• Focused improvements.
Don't just look at sharps injury rates, drill
down to the causes to see if there are patterns of behavior that you
can correct or specific specialties that need to focus more on sharps
safety. For example, if you notice orthopedics has an unusually high
rate of needlesticks, perhaps that group needs to trial blunt suture
needles. Focusing your trialing efforts on the surgeons and staff who
have the most to gain from using safety-engineered devices can be a
compelling sell and might improve frontline compliance. OSM
Ms. Skersick (
jenn@forestcanyon.org
) is the director of nursing at Forest
Canyon Endoscopy & Surgery Center in Flagstaff, Ariz.
was a big one," he says. "We have it noted in our employee handbook:
You're responsible for maintaining a safe work environment. If you see
something that jeopardizes that, you must report it."
Mr. Flexman encourages you to contact your state's OSHA office and
find out if there are programs designed to improve your sharps safety
program. "Embracing them as a partner to help you succeed is much
more productive than viewing them as an enforcement agency," he says.
— Daniel Cook
OSE_1404_part2_Layout 1 4/4/14 2:39 PM Page 75
