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The Needlestick Safety & Prevention Act

In recent months, many veterinary practice managers have been inundated with advertisements from companies claiming their “safety products” are now requited by the new Needlestick Safety & Prevention Act (NSPA). These claims are flatly false. OSHA does not mandate the use of or “certify” any piece of equipment or product.

Furthermore, the NSPA simply directed OSHA to revise standard 1910.1030, commonly known as the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (BPS). Specifically, three changes to the BPS happened because of this action:

• Input from non-managerial healthcare workers must be sought when selecting the types or styles of needles and sharps selected for use in the facility;
• New “safer technology” must be considered to reduce accidental needlesticks (it does not mandate the use of any specific device)
• A sharps injury log is now required for workplaces with 11 or more employees.

Except for animal research facilities, the provisions of the BPS just do not apply to the veterinary community.

More on Sharps & Medical Waste

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The information on these pages is excerpted from
The Veterinary Safety & Health Digest,
Copyright 2001 Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT  All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced for distribution without prior permission from the publisher.