2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

Surgical Products

Products Safety Scalpels Safety Blades and Reusable Handles Conventional Blades and Scalpels Heimlich Valve Specialty Blades Accessory Products Medical-Surgical Product Catalog BD Online Catalog

Technical Support

Clinical Education

View Other Medical-Surgical Products

BD Surgical Products Home


	In 1954 one million children were inoculated against polio with the BD Hypak™, the first completely disposable syringe. More information »

Products
2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act 1,2

The November, 2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act requires employers to evaluate and implement effective and appropriate safety-devices in their facilities, including scalpels and blades.

1. What was the effective compliance date?

October 18, 2001

2. Who has to comply?

Hospitals, alternate site facilities, clinical laboratories and other facilities where employees may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious material are covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. ER, OR and alternate site facilities that utilize scalpels are also covered.

3. What can you do to comply with the scalpel and other non-needle sharps portion?

Adopt the use of scalpels and surgical blades with “engineering controls.” “Engineering controls” isolate or remove exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. For example: scalpels with protective shields.

4. Is this standard enforceable? How?

Yes. It will be enforced through the traditional OSHA inspection procedures. Employers are subject to monetary fines for violating the BBP Standard.

Numerous occupational safety and health studies demonstrate that the use of safety-engineered medical devices when part of an overall BBP risk-reduction program can be extremely effective in reducing accidental sharps injuries.

The BD Bard-Parker™ Protected Blade System has been designed to reduce accidental sharps injuries.

BD Bard-Parker Protected Blade System may be ordered
through your BD Representative and Distributor.
For ordering information call: 1.888.237.2762.

1. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): Document ID f:publ430.106

2. United States Department of Labor, OSHA, Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act FAQ.
http://www.osha.gov/needlesticks/needlefaq.html

3. CDC: Workbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program. http://cdc.gov/sharpssafety/wk_overview.html

Download OSHA FAQ

*-*-

Site Map Terms & Conditions \| Permission Request \| Trademarks BD Worldwide
BD 1 Becton Drive Franklin Lakes, NJ USA 07417 201.847.6800
Unless otherwise noted, BD, BD Logo and all other trademarks are property of Becton, Dickinson and Company. © 2009 BD