Real Stories

Q: What are the rules/guidelines when someone else is responsible for your phlebotomy/injection supplies? We are a physicians office that does research, and the drug companies provide us with all supplies needed (syringes, phlebotomy needles, etc.). We do not purchase our own supplies. Is it still our responsibility to evaluate and provide safety devices or even newer more effective safety devices?

A: The short and, in your case, not so sweet answer is: You, the employer, are on the hook for possible OSHA violation and fines.

Q: It has been standard procedure in our small medical practice to remove contaminated needles from the syringes to save space in the sharps container. I am concerned that this will significantly increase my potential risk of a “dirty” stick. Is this a legal practice? What can I do to reduce my risks, without losing my job?

A: This is absolutely illegal. Let me put it another way…THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ILLEGAL!

It says so in the Bloodborne Pathogens standard section (d)(2)(vii): “Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps shall not be bent, recapped, or removed…”

It is always surprising the extent to which healthcare workers will go to avoid using safety devices on needles and scalpels. Not engaging the device after use is one thing, but tampering or disabling the safety device aspires to new heights, or lows in this case, in misguided determination.

An OSHA consultation hotline call asked Medical Environment Update to check on whether fooling around with the safety device is indeed a violation.

It is, but not for the transgressing employee—that’s an internal disciplinary matter as far as OSHA is concerned.