“Surgical personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens from injuries caused by sharp surgical instruments,” OSHA Administrator Edwin Foulke said. “We strongly encourage the use of blunt-tip suture needles when feasible and appropriate to reduce this risk.”
“The effectiveness of blunt-tip suture needles for preventing needlestick injuries has been widely reported,” NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., said. “We are pleased to partner with OSHA in offering guidance to protect the safety and health of medical professionals.”
The bulletin describes the hazards of sharp-tip suture needles and presents evidence of the effectiveness of blunt-tip needles in decreasing injuries. It also emphasizes OSHA's requirement to use appropriate, available and effective safer medical devices.
Sharp-tip suture needles are the leading source of penetrating injuries to surgical personnel, causing 51 to 71 percent of these incidents. These injuries potentially expose staff and patients to bloodborne pathogens.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) issued a statement in 2005 supporting the use of blunt-tip suture needles where clinically appropriate. This statement has been endorsed by the six organizations that, along with the ACS, make up the Council on Surgical and Perioperative Safety.
The bulletin is available on the OSHA Web site and on the NIOSH Web site.