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EMPLOYEE SAFETY
Answer: true. The agency is taking
sharps safety seriously. Between
October 2012 and September 2013,
the issue topped its list of citations
given at "general medical and surgical hospital" sites. Out of 259 total
citations in 81 inspections (resulting
SAFETY ZONE Could no-hands passing practices
in $236,733 in fines), there were 65 prevent accidental jabs and needlesticks?
bloodborne pathogen citations from 27 inspections (and $83,798 in fines).
8. True or false? Double-gloving is an effective sharps safety practice.
Answer: true. While OSHA doesn't mention it in its regulations, AORN
has backed a study supporting double-gloving and the American
College of Surgeons has recommended double-gloving for surgical
personnel at the sterile field. The ACS's statement ranked the practice's effectiveness alongside the use of safety scalpels, blunt suture
needles and neutral passing zones. The logic: If you're wearing 2 different colors of gloves, you'll have an automatic indicator if the outer
glove has been breached. Also, the extra thickness of dual layers can
shield hands against some contacts with sharp objects.
The risk is real. If you haven't witnessed or experienced a sharps
injury incident, you might not appreciate its enormity. But that doesn't
mean you shouldn't take steps toward prevention, in your employees'
interest and that of the business you operate. So, one more question:
Are you doing all you can to prevent sharps injuries in your facility?
OSM
Ms. Kirchner (bkirchner@asp-email.com) is CEO of Genesee Associates in
Southlake, Texas.
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O U T PAT 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 | D E C E M B E R 2013
