Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act 10-Year Anniversary

More than 10 years ago President Bill Clinton signed into law the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (NSPA), designed to make more specific the requirement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that employers identify, evaluate and implement safer medical devices, especially addressing occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens from accidental sharps injuries in healthcare and other occupational settings. Experts say that sharps safety awareness is slipping off the radar of healthcare workers and infection preventionists must emphasize sharps safety as part of the infection prevention program.