The CDC estimates that 62% to 88% of the approximately 580,000 needlesticks from contaminated sharps that occur in the U.S. each year could be prevented by selecting safer medical devices. Based on these data, OSHA has revised its bloodborne pathogens standard to clarify the need for employers to select safer needle devices and to involve employees in identifying and choosing the devices. The updated standard also requires employers to establish a log to track needlesticks rather than recording only those cuts or sticks that actually lead to illness, and to maintain the privacy of employees who have suffered these injuries.

1. sharps with engineered sharps injury protections, a built-in safety feature or mechanism that effectively reduces the risk of an exposure incident, and
2. needless systems for the collection of bodily fluids after initial venous or arterial access is established.

If you use needles/syringes to draw human blood or to administer injections, you must solicit employee input in choosing safer devices and document this input in your Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan. Example forms for the evaluation of safer medical devices may be found at OSHA's web site.

• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
• BBP Handout
• Bloodborne Pathogens Awareness for New Employees

Take the Web-based Bloodborne Pathogens for Researchers training Bloodborne Pathogens Refresher for Researchers training Bloodborne Pathogens Training for Campus Recreation Services

• University of Maryland Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
• Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
• Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus (formerly known as nonA nonB Virus), Hepatitis D Virus factsheet
• Retroviruses, Including Human and Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV and SIV) factsheet