Qlicksmart
Value Analysis Calculator

Use the Qlicksmart Value Analysis Calculator to estimate cost savings, injury reduction, and workflow improvements with our safety devices

Select and enter your organization’s figures to estimate your investment in scalpel safety.

The Value Analysis Calculator is best viewed in 
a computer desktop or tablet in landscape mode. View Disclaimer and Instructions for the calculator.

Direct cost of Uncomplicated scalpel cuts

This section refers to uncomplicated scalpel cuts ; ie where the skin is broken but where the injury does not result in surgery or a blood-borne infection.
1-A

How many standard scalpels does your organisation use PER YEAR?  

Low
20,000
Mid
50,000
High
100,000
1-B

How many uncomplicated scalpel cuts occur in your organisation PER YEAR?  

Low
12.60
Mid
337.30
High
662.00
1-C

What is the estimated cost per uncomplicated scalpel cut?  

Low
$500
Mid
$1,750
High
$3,000

Research Data  

If your organisation’s data is not available, click on the corresponding research data for calculations
ClearCalculate
Your estimated costs for uncomplicated scalpel cuts are

$0

Per Year

Direct cost of Complicated Injuries resulting in surgery

This section refers to complicated scalpel injuries where surgery is required, incurring further costs than an uncomplicated scalpel cut.
1-D

Over 10 YEARS, how many scalpel injuries which occur in your organisation 
require surgery?  

Please Input A Number Or Enter 0
1-E

What is the cost of surgery to repair a severed tendon/artery/nerve?  

Low
$27,962
Mid
$77,962
High
$100,000
1-F

What are the rehabilitation costs following a surgical repair due to a scalpel injury?

Low
$457
Mid
$3,228
High
$6,000
Your estimated costs for complicated scalpel injuries which require surgery are %0.00 PER YEAR (averaged for costs over 10 years)
ClearCalculate
Your estimated costs for complicated scalpel cuts are

$0

Per Year

Direct cost of complicated injuries resulting in 
blood-infections

This section refers to complicated scalpel injuries where the injury results in a blood-borne infection, incurring further costs than an uncomplicated scalpel cut.
1-G

Over 10 YEARS, how many scalpel injuries which occur in your organisation cause the below blood-borne infections:

HIV
Low
0.0012
Mid
0.0025
High
0.0038
Hepatitis B
Low
0.0023
Mid
0.0068
High
0.0113
Hepatitis C
Low
0.0398
Mid
0.0936
High
0.1474
Other blood-borne infection/s
1-H

What is the ANNUAL cost to your organisation for the treatment of the below blood-borne infections:

HIV cost
Low
$5,449
Mid
$13,141
High
$20,833
Hepatitis B cost
Low
$6,344
Mid
$37,672
High
$69,000
Hepatitis C cost
Low
$8,589
Mid
$20,961
High
$33,333
Other blood-borne infection/s cost

Research Data  

If your organisation’s data is not available, click on the corresponding research data for calculations
ClearCalculate
Your estimated costs for complicated scalpel injuries which result in a blood-borne infection are (averaged for costs over 10 years)

$0

Per Year

Your Estimated Result

Uncomplicated scalpel cuts
Scalpel injuries requiring surgery

Scalpel injuries resulting BBI ?

Your result compared to the research data:

$0
$2,000,000
RESEARCH DATA (LOW):
$0 per year
YOUR RESULT :
$0 per year
RESEARCH DATA (HIGH):
$0 per year
Calculate Indirect Costs
Your total estimated cost is:

$0

Per Year

Workplace Safety Regulations Non-Compliance

2-A

In the past 10 YEARS, how many fines/penalties has your organisation received due to a violation or breach of workplace regulations (Eg. OSHA, WHS Act).

Please Input A Number Or Enter 0
2-B

What is the average fine/penalty amount per violation or breach?

Low
$4,728
Mid
$68,663
High
$132,598

Research Data  

If your organisation’s data is not available, click on the corresponding research data for calculations

Injury Litigation

2-C

In the past 10 YEARS, how many times has your organisation been part of a lawsuit due to a scalpel injury?

Please Input A Number Or Enter 0
2-D

What was the average cost to your organisation per lawsuit or litigation?  

Low
$4,369
Mid
$6,000,000
High
$12,000,000

Research Data  

If your organisation’s data is not available, click on the corresponding research data for calculations

Compensation To Employee

2-E

How many compensation claims has your organisation had to pay IN THE PAST 10 YEARS due to scalpel cuts/injuries?

Please Input A Number Or Enter 0
2-F

What is the average compensation amount per scalpel cut/injury?

Low
$311
Mid
$20,980
High
$41,649

Research Data  

If your organisation’s data is not available, click on the corresponding research data for calculations

Insurance Premium

2-G

In the past 10 YEARS, how many times has your organisation been subject to an increase in your insurance premium due to a scalpel cut/injury?

Please Input A Number Or Enter 0
2-H

What is the average increase to your insurance premium due to scalpel 
cuts/injuries?

Please Input A Number Or Enter 0
ClearCalculate

Your Estimated Result

Your result compared to the research data:

$0
$2,000,000
RESEARCH DATA (LOW):
$0 per year
YOUR RESULT :
$0 per year
RESEARCH DATA (HIGH):
$0 per year
Calculate Equipment Costs
Your total estimated cost is:

$0

Per Year

Equipment Costs

3-A

How many standard scalpels does your organisation use PER YEAR?  

Number Is Taken From Your Answer 1A

What is the cost per standard scalpel blade?

Low
$0.24
Mid
$0.27
High
$0.30
3-B

How many “safety scalpels” does your organisation use PER YEAR?  

Please Input A Number Or Enter 0

What is the cost per safety scalpel?

Low
$1.16
Mid
$2.20
High
$3.23
3-C

How many needle counters does your organisation use per year?  

Please Input A Number Or Enter 0

What is the cost per needle counter?

Low
$1.00
Mid
$1.96
High
$2.91

Research Data  

If your organisation’s data is not available, click on the corresponding research data for calculations
ClearCalculate

Your Estimated Result

Cost per year when using BladeFLASK
scalpel blade remover
Cost per year when using BladeCASSETTE
scalpel blade remover
Cost per year when using BladeNeedleSYSTEM
scalpel blade remover
Cost per year when using
“safety” scalpels
Go To Report

Report

Generated by

This is a customised report on the costs of sharps injuries from scalpel blades in your organisation and the potential savings generated from investment in safety equipment. The calculations are based on the figures you provided in the Qlicksmart Value Analysis Calculator tool.

Page 1 / 9

Sharps safety is mandated

The use of Safety-Engineered Devices (SEDs) to prevent sharps injuries is mandated in regulations and industry standards, including:

Page 2 / 9

Working through the calculations to implement SEDs for scalpel safety

p4
    Scalpel safety equipment cost
p5
    Savings from safety equipment: direct cost of scalpel injuries
p6
    Savings from safety equipment: indirect cost of scalpel injuries
p7
    Cost to change to scalpel safety equipment
p8
    Unmeasured savings from safety equipment
p9
    References
Page 3 / 9

Estimated safety equipment cost

Cost to buy SEDs which are compliant, based on your yearly scalpel usage:

Cost per year when using BladeFLASK
scalpel blade remover
Cost per year when using BladeCASSETTE
scalpel blade remover
Cost per year when using BladeNeedleSYSTEM
scalpel blade remover
Cost per year when using
“safety” scalpels

How was this calculated?

[ (number of standard scalpel blades + number of safety scalpels) / capacity of SED ] x the US retail price of the SED

Page 4 / 9

Savings from safety investment

Direct costs of scalpel injuries to your organisation:

Your organisation’s total estimated direct costs are: $0.00 per year 1

* BBI = blood-borne infection

Your organisation’s direct costs could be as high as: $0.00 per year 2

How was this calculated?

1.Based on the figures you imputed in Tab 1 of the Value Analysis Calculator

2.Based on the research data shown in Tab 1 of the Value Analysis Calculator, considering how many standard scalpels your organisation uses per year

* Prices are expressed as USD

Page 5 / 9

Savings from safety investment

Indirect costs of scalpel injuries to your organisation:

Your organisation’s total estimated indirect costs are $0.00 per year 1

Workplace safety non-compliance fine/penalty - $0.00
Injury litigation - $0.00
Compensation to employee - $0.00
Insurance premium penalty - $0.00

Your organisation’s direct costs could be as high as $0.00 per year 2

How was this calculated?

1.Based on the figures you imputed in Tab 2 of the Value Analysis Calculator

2.Based on the research data shown in Tab 2 of the Value Analysis Calculator.

* Prices are expressed as USD

Page 6 / 9

Cost to Change to scalpel safety equipment

Cost to change to using commercially-available Safety-Engineered Devices (SEDs) which are compliant (if your result is negative- this is a saving):

Using BladeFLASK
scalpel blade remover
Using BladeCASSETTE
scalpel blade remover
Using BladeNeedleSYSTEM
scalpel blade remover + needle counter
Using
“safety” scalpels

How was this calculated?

+ Cost of SED (from page four)

+ scalpel blades (your current scalpel blades + scalpel blade to replace safety scalpels, as required)

- cost of redundant equipment due to the use of SED (eg. Needle counter when using BladeNeedleSYSTEM)

- direct costs of scalpel injuries to your organisation (from page five)

- indirect costs of scalpel injuries to your organisation (from page six)

Page 7 / 9

Potential savings from safety investment

Operational, Human, and Reputational Costs not included in the Value Analysis Calculator

Operational Costs

Human Costs

Reputational Costs

Lost time & productivity n

Emotional distress and anxiety n,q

Delayed service delivery p

Administration expenses o

Burnout q

Tarnished reputation p

Retraining p

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder r

Loss of key, experienced staff p

Counselling services n

Affect on staff morale p

Page 8 / 9

References

a)
The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/645/made
b)
The Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. (2018). Minimum Standards of Clinical Practice for Members of the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. Retreieved from https://iocp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Minimum-Standards-IOCP-2017-v1-1.pdf
c)
Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, H.R. 430, 106th Cong. (2000)
d)
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. (2008). Workbook for Designing, Implementing & Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/sharpsworkbook_2008.pdf
e)
Association of Surgical Technologists. (2017). AST Guidelines for Best Practices for Sharps Safety and Use of the Neutral Zone. Retrieved from https://www.ast.org/uploadedFiles/Main_Site/Content/About_Us/Standard_Sharps_Safety_Use_of_the_Neutral_Zone.pdf
f)
Croke, L. (2019). Guideline for sharps safety: The official voice of perioperative nursing the official voice of perioperative nursing. AORN Journal, 110(4), P8-P10.doi: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/10.1002/aorn.12850
g)
Council Directive 2010/32/EU implementing the Framework Agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector concluded by HOSPEEM and EPSU. (2010). Official Journal of the European Union, 134:66. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:134:0066:0072:EN:PDF
h)
Verordnung des Bundesministers für Arbeit, Soziales und Konsumentenschutz zum Schutz der Arbeitnehmer/innen vor Verletzungen durch scharfe oder spitze medizinische Instrumente (Nadelstichverordnung - NastV). (2013). Retrieved from https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2013_II_16/BGBLA_2013_II_16.pdfsig
i)
Valtioneuvoston asetusterävien instrumenttien aiheuttamien tapaturmien ehkäisemisestä terveydenhuoltoalalla. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2013/20130317
j)
Verordnung zur Neufassung der Verordnung über Sicherheit und Gesundheitsschutz bei Tätigkeiten mit Biologischen Arbeitsstoffen und zur Änderung der Gefahrstoffverordnung . (2013). Retrieved from http://www.bmas.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/PDF-Meldungen/neufassung-biostoffverordnung.pdf;jsessionid=35EE1C2EBB9DC997C987B6FC1A2BEAF0?__blob=publicationFile
k)
Protezione dalle ferite da taglio e da punta nel settore ospedaliero e sanitario (2014). Gazzetta Ufficiale, n.57. Retrieved from https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2014/03/10/14G00031/sg
l)
The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/645/made
m)
National Health and Medical Research Council. (2019). Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council
n)
Mannocci, A., De Carli, G., Di Bari, V., Saulle, R., Unim, B., Nicolotti, N., La Torre, G. (2016). How Much do Needlestick Injuries Cost? A Systematic Review of the Economic Evaluations of Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Among Healthcare Personnel. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 37(6), 635-646. doi:10.1017/ice.2016.48
o)
Walsh, L. (2006). Sharps injuries in dental practices: getting the point. Australasian Dental Practice, January/February, 66-68.
p)
National Audit Office. (2003). A safe place to work - Improving the management of health and safety risks to staff in NHS trusts. Retrieved from London.
q)
Cooke, CE., Stephens ,JM., Clinical, (2017). Economic, and humanistic burden of needlestick injuries in healthcare workers. Med Devices (Auckl), 10:225-235. doi:10.2147/MDER.S140846
r)
Worthington, M. G., Ross, J. J., & Bergeron, E. K. (2006). Posttraumatic stress disorder after occupational HIV exposure: two cases and a literature review. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 27(2), 215-217.
Page 9 / 9
Want to learn more?
To find out more about scalpel injuries in healthcare and the value of single-handed safety-engineered devices, contact Qlicksmart today.
We can help your organization with sourcing the latest data, conducting a trial, and sharps safety education programs to prevent the costs of scalpel cuts.

+61 7 3844 1182

hello@qlicksmart.com

www.qlicksmart.com

Level 1, 148 Boundary st, West End, QLD,4101 Australia

Copyright © 2020 Qlicksmart (ABN 37033096995).

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