Although it has previously been thought that safety scalpels would improve sharps safety, evidence suggests this may not be the case. The term “safety scalpel” is a misnomer- there is no supportive proof that safety scalpels are actually safe. Active devices such as safety scalpels may provide a false sense of security to the end-user, which …
Preventing the Risk of Scalpel Injuries to Livestock Handlers
Livestock handlers undertake surgical castration with scalpels to remove testicles from male animals such as cows or swine. Livestock handlers are often exposed to occupational health risks of scalpel cuts and injuries during castration procedures. As sharps injuries have been observed in veterinarian practices associated with large animals, it is important for livestock handlers to …
Is Your Sharps Safety Program Effective?
There is always the risk that a sharps injury will lead to a blood-borne infection and other consequences. Because of this, workplaces which use sharps such as scalpels and needles (including hospitals, aged care facilities, aesthetician clinics) need to make sure that a sharps safety program is in place. To make sure that your sharps …
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Some Quick Statistics on Sharps Injuries
Here are some quick stats regarding sharps injuries in the healthcare industry – hospitals, clinics, and facilities. Scalpel cuts are the second most common injury in the operating theatres, accounting for 7% of the total number of reported injuries. Risks from the scalpel cuts have been documented including infection by HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, …
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Sharps Injury Case Study in the OR
We talk a lot on this blog about sharps injuries and how they may impact the victim and institution. Sometimes, it’s difficult to comprehend the consequences of a sharps injury in a “real-world” sense. Earlier this year Dr Dean C. Taylor from North Carolina presented his own cautionary story of when he contracted a sharps …
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Sharps Injuries Statistics Around the World
It’s concerning that even with all the medical breakthroughs and advances in surgical technology, the threat of getting a sharps injury in the healthcare setting is still a major concern amongst nurses, operating room technicians, and other healthcare professionals. These injuries are not just about getting an open cut, but also worrying are the blood …