Sharps Safety Is a Critical Component of Compliance

Sharps Safety is a Critical Component to Your Facility’s Compliance Program, Here’s How to Make it Easier 

Sharps safety is an indispensable component of any healthcare facility’s compliance program. Not only does it play a crucial role in safeguarding the well-being of your healthcare system in terms of compliance liability, but it also helps to ensure the overall safety of both clinicians and patients.  

With such high stakes, the subject of sharps safety can be a daunting topic for even the most experienced healthcare leader. However, the right protocols, supported by an intuitive, user-friendly sharps collection system, can make effective sharps safety attainable. Whether your setting is a fast-paced hospital or a smaller-sized healthcare facility or other type of waste generator, read on for ways to increase your compliance strategies with practical, easy-to-implement solutions.

Understanding the Gravity of Needlestick Injuries 

Needlestick and other sharps-related injuries are a continuous risk in any healthcare setting. With clinicians being constantly exposed to needles and other sharp instruments, if they are not handled, disposed of, and stored correctly, it can lead to severe consequences. As you’re probably all too aware of, needlestick injuries can result in the transmission of bloodborne pathogens that include life-threatening infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. It’s obvious sharps are one of the most frequently used tools in healthcare that pose some of the biggest risks to staff and patients alike.

The Impact of Needlestick Injuries Goes Beyond Physical Effects

Beyond the immediate physical danger of a needlestick injury, there is also a profound emotional impact on the affected healthcare worker. The anxiety and stress that come with waiting for test results to confirm whether they have contracted a bloodborne pathogen can be overwhelming. 

This can impact not only the worker involved in the injury but their co-workers as well. With employee retention and satisfaction grades always a concern for administration, avoiding sharps incidents is paramount to maintaining a safe and appealing workplace. Furthermore, needlestick injuries can result in considerable financial implications, including the cost of medical treatment, potential loss of work, and the need for ongoing medical surveillance.

Risks and Liability for Healthcare Facilities

For healthcare facilities, the implications of needlestick injuries extend even further. These incidents can lead to substantial financial penalties, increased insurance premiums, and potential legal action, especially if it is found that the facility did not adhere to proper sharps safety protocols. The reputation of your healthcare facility can also be severely tarnished, affecting its standing in the community and potentially leading to a loss of trust among patients. With so much at stake on both a micro and macro level, it’s clear a practical solution that is easy for staff to utilize is of paramount importance.

Ensuring Sharps Compliance and Safety

To mitigate the risks associated with needlestick injuries, healthcare facilities should establish and rigorously enforce comprehensive sharps safety programs. This involves several key steps, including:

• Implementing Safe Work Practices. Regularly ensure that all clinicians are trained in the safe handling, disposal, and storage of sharps.
• Utilizing Safer Medical Devices. By adopting devices with safety features designed to prevent sharps injuries, you can vastly minimize risk. This includes steering away from plastic bag units that can expose staff to sharps injuries.
• Providing Access to Safety Equipment. Collection devices are only effective if they are conveniently within reach of staff. To help keep them within easy reach, opt for collection devices that take up less space and are easy to mount or move safely.  
• Encouraging Prompt Reporting: Fostering a culture where all needlestick and sharps-related injuries are reported immediately means creating a transparent and understanding environment where staff feel comfortable seeking timely medical evaluation and follow-ups.

Secure a Sharp Is a Safer Solution

Amidst the plethora of safety equipment available, Secure a Sharp stands out as a groundbreaking solution. Designed with the safety of clinicians in mind, it features puncture-proof plastic, ensuring that once a sharp is disposed of, it cannot harm anyone else. This innovative product is inspired by the real world scenarios where sharps are being used and disposed of, making it a smart and intuitive solution for environments of all sizes. Below are some of the top reasons why small sharps waste generators are choosing Secure a Sharp:

Benefits of Secure a Sharp

• Cost Effective – Cost Effective: Simplified Security Solutions – With one universal locking bracket for all sizes, Secure a Sharp containers minimize the need for multiple accessories, saving you time and money while ensuring effective protection for your sharps waste disposal needs.
• Cradle to Grave Security – Secure a Sharp ensures peace of mind from generation to disposal. With inbuilt locks exceeding penetration requirements, our containers offer reliable protection for small generators, safeguarding your organization throughout the entire disposal process.
• Secure Design – Utilizing inbuilt locks that secure the contents, Secure a Sharp containers exceed penetration requirements and are specially designed for small generators. 
• Convenient Storage Makes Disposal Always in Reach – Secure containers are only as effective as their placement. That’s why Secure a Sharp offers universal wall mounts which can easily be added to main points of disposal in your workplace environment. 

Create a Culture of Safety

Securing sharps safety in a healthcare facility goes beyond just providing the right equipment; it requires cultivating a culture of safety. This involves:

• Continuous education of staff on the latest in sharps safety and best practices.
• Empowering employees to take an active role in their safety and supporting them with high-quality tools that help them to protect themselves.
• Conducting regular audits which can help to not only ensure sharps safety protocols are being followed, but also identify gaps and areas for improvement.

Sharps safety is a critical aspect of any healthcare facility’s compliance program, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding the health and well-being of clinicians and patients alike. By understanding the risks associated with needlestick injuries, recognizing the impact on both individuals and facilities, and adopting solutions like Secure a Sharp, healthcare facilities can create a safer, more compliant working environment.