Unit 1: Needlestick Safety & Prevention Act: Advancements in Safer Devices
Course Objectives
- Explain the purpose and key requirements of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act.
- Identify common causes of needlestick injuries in phlebotomy practice.
- Recognize OSHA-required safety-engineered sharps and their functions.
- Demonstrate safe handling, activation, and disposal of safety needles.
- Report exposures or device failures according to OSHA and facility protocols.
Course Content
Course Creator: Nichelle Volker RMA
Total CE Hours: 1 Credit Hour
Pace Course #: 586-2617-26
Key Terms:
- Engineering controls
- EPINet
- ECP
- SED
- Sharps
- Needlestick Injury
- Work-Practice Controls
Outline:
- Introduction
- Why was the act needed
- NSPA in Action
- OSHA BBP Standard
- Implementation of the law in new technologies
- Causes of Needlestick Injuries
- Common causes
- Device and patient-related factors
- Most vulnerable moments
- Common causes
- Safer Devices and engineering controls
- Engineering controls define
- Types of safety needles
- Scenario: Needleless system helps prevent injury
- OSHA expectations for device selection
- Advancements in safer devices
- Impact of the Ace on innovation
- Industry innovation
- Modern advancements
- Smart safety technologies
- Future trends
- Reporting, Rights, and OSHA protocols
- First steps after exposure
- Documentation
- Device failure trends
- Employer responsibilities
- Why reporting is important
- Enforcement
- Quick reference exposure checklist
References:
- Kinshella, A. L. (2025). The Foundations Of Modern Phlebotomy (1st edition). Intelvio, LLC.
- (2021, October 9). Factors associated with needlestick injuries among healthcare workers: Implications for prevention. National Library Of Medicine. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8502299/
- (2001, January 18). Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens; Needlestick and Other Sharps Injuries. OSHA. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/federalregister/2001-01-18#
- (n.d.). Safe Needles Save Lives- Fact Sheet. American Nurse Association. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from https://www.nursingworld.org/globalassets/docs/ana/snsl-fact-sheet_final110110.pdf
- (2023, May 1). Needlestick. National Library Of Medicine. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493147/?utm
- (1999, November 1). Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Health Care Settings. CDC. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2000-108/default.html
- OSHA. (2003, February 20). Interpretation of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act and engineering control requirements. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2003-02-20
- (n.d.). Understanding the Different Types of Safety Needles and Syringes. Pristine Medical. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from https://us.pristine-medical.com/blogs/resources/understanding-the-different-types-of-safety-needles-and-syringes
- (n.d.). Issues in Understanding the Impact of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act on Hospital Sharps Injuries. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/abs/issues-in-understanding-the-impact-of-the-needlestick-safety-and-prevention-act-on-hospital-sharps-injuries/9F386241DCFDB73FE2856CF09C9BD35A?
- (n.d.). Annual Evaluation of Safety Needles. MedSafe. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from https://medsafe.com/osha-compliance/annual-evaluation-of-safety-needles/
- (n.d.). Needlestick/ Sharps Safety and Prevention. Northern Arizona University. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from https://in.nau.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/139/2020/02/Needlestick-Safety-and-Prevention-Program.pdf
- Cardinal Health. Safety needles designed to protect – Monoject Hypodermic Safety Needles. Cardinal Health. https://www.cardinalhealth.com/content/dam/corp/web/documents/literature/cardinal-health-monoject-hypodermic-safety-needle.pdf
- (n.d.). How Smart Technology is Revolutionizing Sharps Disposal in Healthcare. NELO. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from https://get-nelo.com/2025/01/26/how-smart-technology-is-revolutionizing-sharps-disposal-in-healthcare/?
- (n.d.). Needlestick Injuries Reduced Through Use of Safety Feature-Enhanced Needle Disposal Device. Infection Control Today. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/needlestick-injuries-reduced-through-use-safety-feature-enhanced-needle-disposal?
- OSHA — Bloodborne Pathogens Standard: Sharps Injury Log Requirements, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.8
