Alan Bitar [email protected]
October 2015
Safe Handling of Sharps
About me…
10 years at Micro & Immunology (VMC)
2 years at Cornell EHS (Research Safety)
Bloodborne Pathogens
Waste Disposal Guidance Documents
Lab inspections
Agenda
• Injuries involving sharps Needles, blades, glass and other
• Numbers of reported injuries from 2011 to now Break down by category
• Promote the use of our website Biosafety tip sheet Safe handling of sharps video
Needles
Blades
Glass
OtherSharp Edges!
Example of sharp injuries reported by your colleagues at Cornell …
“I was using a syringe needle to
homogenize previously lysed cells. Once I was
done, I tried to put the cap back on the needle
and got a needle stick injury on my left thumb. ”
“ I just finished trimming a set of formalin fixed tissues.
I had sprayed my instruments with disinfectant.
I noticed the knife falling and grabbed it subconsciously.
When I was rinsing out the wound I fainted and hit my
head.”
“ I was inserting the end of a glass pipet into a
pipettor device to aspirate fluid.
The pipet broke and the broken end cut
my left middle finger. “
“ I was instructing a student on a technique
when the hand saw slipped, lacerating my left
thumb. ”
Reported sharps injuries 2011 - 15
39
4844 45
30
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
2012
15
520
8
bladesother
needles glass
2013
13
12
16
3
blades
other
needlesglass
2014
19
4
19
3
blades
other
needles
glass
2011
9
717
6
bladesother
needles
glass
2015
12
6
11
1
blades
other
needles
glass
Summary
• Visit Sharps Handling Webpage
• Please share the video
• Promote the use of tip sheet
Thank you!