Warning

• Failure to adhere to OSHA needlestick protocol leads to substantial fines. Recently, a dental office experienced needlestick injuries with office employees. Because the employees received no free follow-up testing or training regarding post-needlestick protocol, the dental office was fined over $70,000.
  
  

Considerations

• OSHA implemented needlestick protocol to prevent the exposure of diseases that spread via blood and bodily fluids like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitus B and Hepatitus C. The protocol official includes other fluids like vaginal secretions and saliva in addition to blood.
  
  

Features

• The OSHA maintains reported records of exposures via needlestick on a OSHA 300 form. Currently, only 25 states have needlestick protocols approved by the OSHA.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• OSHA reported the results of studies on the causes of needlestick injuries. It found that at least 60 percent of the injuries occurred during the disposal of a needlstick. OSHA's findings revealed training on proper disposal of needlestick will significantly reduce the number of accidental exposures.