Are We Still in the Dark Ages of Sharps Safety?

“The manufacturers have stepped up to the plate to address the issue,” McCormick says. “We are lacking a few devices but for the most part the needle has been taken out of the picture or safety devices are available. Is enough education and training being provided? Training is an issue because many facilities use different devices. Education is usually good when a major change in supplies is initiated but for new employees coming in continually, they often don’t benefit from the same level of education.”

“Safety-engineered sharps devices will achieve what they were supposed to achieve only if a) they are really safe for the users (staff safety) b) patient safety is not compromised and c) passive devices that need no activation of safety features are used,” says Sinnot. “Have safety scalpels achieved what they were supposed to achieve? No. They are not passive devices and patient safety may be compromised.”

HCWs are looking to industry to evolve their products and advance the national sharps safety agenda, and it is important that they continue to provide feedback to manufacturers.

“We as manufacturers must respond to the feedback we receive from HCWs,” says Rumswinkel. “Products evolve based on solving the problems of HCWs and eliminating specific occupational hazards.

“We can develop products that are improved in the way the safety mechanisms are deployed – making them more automated and also by improving the ergonomics of our products to make them more user friendly,” Fernandes says.

The pressing issues relating to sharps injury prevention that manufacturers hear most are varied.

“Healthcare facilities are trying to balance required engineering controls with cost-effective products,” says Rumswinkel. As manufacturers, we must provide devices that are safe, easy to use, and reasonably priced.”