The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently revised the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR Part 1910.1030) to include new efforts to help reduce needlestick injuries among healthcare workers and others who handle medical sharps. OSHA now requires employers to involve non-managerial employees in selecting safer medical devices.

EHRS is seeking participants to evaluate sharps with engineered sharps injury protection to reduce percutaneous injuries associated with the handling of sharps. We are asking individuals to substitute sharps with engineered sharps injury protection (defined as a non-needle sharp or a needle device used for withdrawing body fluids, accessing a vein or artery, or administering medications or other fluids, with a built-in safety feature or mechanism that effectively reduces the risk of an exposure incident) for regular sharps in an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of such devices. The outcome of these evaluations will be documented and made available to University employees in the Universityıs Exposure Control Plan.

If you work with human source material and/or bloodborne pathogens, use sharps and are interested in evaluating safer medical devices, please complete and submit the following form.
Please note: This resource is available to University of Pennsylvania affiliates only.

We welcome your assistance.