Prevalence Of Needlestick Injuries Research Articles

Prevalence of Needle Stick Injuries Among Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Care Centre in Kochi, India

Prevalence of Needle Stick Injuries Among Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Care Centre in Kochi, India

Occupational Risks Prevention Practices Among Medical Waste Handlers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Medical waste handlers are at immediate risk of needle stick injuries and exposure to infectious materials from medical waste. Adequate knowledge and safe practices on the part of the workers are essential for the prevention of nosocomial infections. Objective: To assess and compare the factors involved in occupational risk prevention practices among medical waste handlers in two tertiary hospitals in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study compared medical waste handlers and the risk prevention measures available in a specialist hospital and a teaching hospital. The 100 participants were randomly selected and surveyed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of needle stick injury at the teaching hospital and specialist hospital were 38% and 28%, respectively. Hepatitis B vaccine uptake was 6% in the teaching hospital compared to 70% at the specialist hospital. There was a significant difference concerning the provision of safety equipment (p<0.001), personal protective equipment (PPE) (p<0.001), Hepatitis vaccine (p<0.001), training (p<0.001) and availability of waste management policy (p = 0.015) but no significant difference concerning the regular supply of water and soap (p = 0.494) between both institutions. Conclusion: The waste handlers at the specialist hospital were better equipped for safety than those at the teaching hospital. A safer environment, equipment, and training for medical waste handlers are needed to enable them to practise occupational risk prevention more effectively.

EVALUATION OF NEEDLE STICK INJURY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN AL NAJAF CITY/ IRAQ

Introduction:In healthcare-related situations, needle sticks represent a substantial work-related health risk. Healthcare professionals face the danger of contracting blood-borne infections as well as the psychological impact of these wounds. The study aimedtoevaluate the prevalence of needle stick injuries and the associated socio-demographic determinants among healthcare workers.Methods: The research employed a cross-sectional design, with data collection occurring from February 1st, 2023 to February 1st, 2024. 380participants were conveniently selected from different Al-Najaf City/Iraq healthcare institutions. The study sample included a variety of specialists, including anesthetics, surgeons, dentists, surgeon assistants, anesthetics assistants, nurses, physicians, and laboratory workers. A self-administered questionnaire from previously published articles was used for data collection. It covers socio-demographic information, a history of previous exposure to, and the reasons for needle stick injuries.Quantitative variables were summarized with means and standard deviations; descriptive statistics for categorical variables included frequencies and percentages. P ≤ 0.05 indicated statistical significance.Results: Most healthcare workers (85%) were previously exposed to needle sticks. Job category was significantly associated with a history of needle stick exposure (p < 0.001). The anesthetics represent the highest job class exposed to needle sticks (100%). More than one-fifth of participants (21.85%) reported recapping needles followed by bending needles in 16.84% of them as a cause of needle stick injuries. Conclusion: Most healthcare workers are exposed to needle stick injuries; job category is an important risk factor

The Relationship Between Nurses’ Knowledge and Needle Stick Injury Prevention Behavior

A frequent work accident in the hospitals is needle stick injury. Nurses always contact with blood, patient’s body fluids, punctured needles used by patients and other dangers which can be a medium of disease transmission. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between knowledge and needle stick injury prevention behavior. This study used a correlational analytical design with a cross-sectional method, and used cluster sampling techniques to obtain 88 respondents. The data were gathered by using the Lubis questionnaire to measure knowledge and behavior in the prevention of needle stick injury. Then, the data were analyzed by a contingency coefficient test. It was found that 83 nurses (94.3%) had good knowledge and 85 nurses (96.6%) had good behavior. The data about nurses’ knowledge was analyzed and obtained a value of p = 0.000 and a value of contingency coefficient = 0.444, meaning that there was a relationship between knowledge and needle stick injury prevention behavior. Prevention efforts can be carried out by providing guidance, training, direction, and supervision, so that nurses’ awareness increase and they can work safely.

Development and Validation of the Needlestick Injury Prevention (N-SIP) Module.

Needlestick injuries (NSIs) pose a significant occupational hazard to healthcare workers (HCWs), with potential risks of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The development of effective training modules is crucial to addressing NSI prevention and enhancing HCWs' knowledge and risk perception. This study aims to develop and validate the Needlestick Injury Prevention Module (N-SIP) using the ADDIE model (Florida State University, FL),which stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation, to improve NSI-related knowledge and risk perception among House Officers (HOs) in healthcare settings. The study utilized approaches comprising literature review, module development using the ADDIE model, content validation by experts, and face validation among HOs. The N-SIP module addressed various aspects of NSI prevention, including background information, bloodborne viral infections, infection prevention practices, and occupational safety. The evaluation involved content validation by expert panels and face validation by HOs. The content validity of the N-SIP module was rigorously evaluated through expert review and validation by subject matter experts and HOs. The experts' feedback ensured the quality, relevance, and comprehensiveness of the module's instructional materials. Furthermore, face validity was assessed among HOs to ensure the module's clarity, appropriateness, and perceived effectiveness in addressing NSI prevention. The positive response from HOs indicated favorable perceptions of the module's content and instructional design, affirming its potential to effectively enhance perceptions related to NSI prevention among HCWs. The development and evaluation of the N-SIP represent a significant advancement in addressing NSIs among HCWs. Through a structured approach informed by the ADDIE model, the N-SIP module offers a comprehensive and tailored learning experience aimed at enhancing NSI-related knowledge and risk perception among HOs. The study findings underscore the importance of effective training interventions in promoting a culture of safety and reducing occupational hazards in healthcare settings.

Exposure to needlestick injury among healthcare support staff in Greater Accra, Ghana: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the prevalence and predisposing factors of a needlestick injury (NSI) among healthcare support staff in the Greater Accra region, Ghana.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional survey was carried...

Incidence of Needle Stick Injuries and Behavior After Injuries Among Nurses in Sulaimani Hospitals

Background: Needle-stick injuries cause occupational health and safety challenges for healthcare workers on a global scale. Needle-stick injuries can potentially expose individuals to dangerous blood-borne pathogens. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of needle stick injuries and their main causes, as well as the nurse’s behavior after being injured by needle stick injuries. Methods: A self-reported cross-sectional study was conducted in Sulaimani city governmental and non-governmental tertiary hospitals in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The data was collected by constructing a questionnaire form from 300 nurses who provide medical care by non-probability convenience sampling from October 1, 2022, to March 1, 2023. Results: 74.3% of the 223 nurses who participated in the study experienced needle stick injuries. The needle syringe (88.7%) was the most common tool involved. The sterilization of wound area 48.9% was the number-ranked action of the nurses after injury, followed by pushing the injured area 28.4% to drain blood. Most of the nurses did not receive post-injury prophylaxes (57.4%) or send their blood to additional tests (73.1%). Conclusions: Syringe needles were a major cause of the needle sticks, which injured three out of four participants. Additionally, the nurses' top priority after receiving a needle stick was to sterilize the exposed portion of the wounds.

Awareness, Perception, and Practice Regarding Needle-Stick Injury and Its Prevention Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India.

Background Needle stick injuries caused by various sharp and other items like hypodermic needlesand intravenous cannulas are important occupational hazards for healthcare workers (HCW). Preventing injuries is the most effective way to protect workers and requires good awareness and perceptions associated with practice on a daily basis. Therefore, we did a descriptive cross-sectional study involving healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital to find the level of awareness, perception, and practice associated with needle stick injury and its prevention. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, in south India. 400 healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, technicians, and housekeeping staff) with more than one year of experience were randomly selected. An anonymous, self-reporting, semi-structured questionnaire was administered. Results are expressed in mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentages. Results Out of 400 respondents, 89% had good awareness about proper disposal practices. However,44% of the participants had the misbelief that recapping needles was recommended to prevent needle stick injury (NSI), and 30.5% practiced it, with the doctors being the majority. The majority (79.8%) knew that HIV, Hepatitis B & C are blood-borne pathogens that HCWs are most commonly exposed to through needle-stick injury (NSI). However, only 49% knew that Hepatitis B has the highest risk of transmission following a needle prick. 75% were aware of the correct Hepatitis B vaccination doses. Most of the healthcare workers (89.5%) claimed to be aware of the procedure and guidelines to be followed after a needle stick injury and 96% felt that they would report NSI immediately. Awareness regarding Hepatitis C prevention was comparatively poor, with only 47% having knowledge regarding the non-availability of Hepatitis C Vaccination and& 46% about the non-availability of post-exposure prophylaxis for Hepatitis C. Among the healthcare workers, 61% were worried about having needle stick injuries but 56.5% felt that their own personal safety is secondary to patient care. Among the HCWs, 91.3% believed that needle stick injuries can be prevented. Most of the participants (93.5%) ensure that others around them take extra precautions while handling sharp/ needles. The majority, i.e. 88%, utilized a designated container for disposal of sharp items, whileonly 53% of respondents utilized a needle cutter or shredder. 85% of HCWs had attended specific training programs on the usage of safe devices/sharps in the preceding one-year period and 72.8% had completed the vaccination against Hepatitis B. Conclusion Awareness regarding needle stick injury and its prevention is patchy and not adequate across different sections of healthcare workers. Perceptions regarding needle stick injury and its prevention revealed an overall positive attitude. Practices related to needle stick injury and its prevention seem to be reasonably good except when related to recapping and waiting to dispose of until the completion of the session. Training sessions need to be tailored for specific participant groups and a 'one size fits all' philosophy cannot be followed.

Prevalence of Needle Stick Injury and its Management Practices among Medical MBBS Interns: A Hospital based Cross Sectional Study from Central India

Prevalence of Needle Stick Injury and its Management Practices among Medical MBBS Interns: A Hospital based Cross Sectional Study from Central India

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE ABOUT NEEDLE STICK INJURY TOWARDS PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT AMONG CLINICAL STUDENTS AT PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN CYBERJAYA, MALAYSIA

Introduction: Needle stick injury has been proven to be one of the modes of transmitting blood-borne viruses. Previous studies showed a high prevalence of needle stick injury among medical students duringclinical activities due to a lack of knowledge. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of needle stick injury among clinical students and the association between knowledge-attitude and knowledge-practice of needle stick injury. Methods:An online descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among clinical medical students at the University of Cyberjaya and the sample was selected using convenience sampling. Results:The majority of the respondents were female (70.9%) and year 4 students (51.7%). Only 8.6% of the respondents experienced needle stick injuries. The tasks performed during injury are mostly disposal of needles (3.3%) and recapping needles (3.3%). The perceived cause of the injury is mostly due to lack of experience (4.6%). The majority of the respondents had a satisfactory level of knowledge (84.1%), and a satisfactory level of attitude (84.8%), and almost half of them had an average or poor level of practice (42.4%). However, there was no significant association between the level of knowledge and level of attitude and level of knowledge and level of practice (p>0.05).Conclusion:The majority of clinical medical students had a satisfactory level of knowledge and attitude towards needle stick injury whereas the level of practice among them was a matter of concern. Therefore, adequate interventions toward needle stick injury precautions are needed to improve the level of practice among clinical medical students.

A simple technical innovation to prevent needle stick injuries among dental professionals.

Dental healthcare personnel face the potential danger of being exposed to infectious patients while administering local anesthesia injections during dental operations. This could lead to unintentional transfer of infectious diseases from patients to physicians. Although safety measures such as the One-hand-scoop technique and the use of safety syringes, plastic needle cap holders, and needles with safety caps are in place, there have been instances of needle stick injuries reported in clinics. This might be due to the lack of adherence to conventional safety measures or the impracticality of safety techniques and safety syringes. This article aims to demonstrate the utilization of dental tweezers, specifically London College tweezers or dental forceps, for the secure recapping of needles, eliminating the requirement for extra equipment or devices. After obtaining ethical approval (Approval No.: 024-01-2024) from the College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, 67 dental professionals, with consent for participation in the study, were included. They were requested to use dental tweezers/London College tweezers and dental extraction forceps such as maxillary anterior, mandibular anterior, and maxillary bayonet root forceps individually to recap the local anesthetic needles. The efficacy of these techniques was evaluated against the one-hand scoop technique for its ease, convenience, and reliability in preventing needle stick injuries. The evaluation of dental professionals regarding the ease of using dental tweezers to recap needles, compared to the one-hand scoop technique (p=0.592), maxillary bayonet root forceps (p=0.746), mandibular anterior forceps (p=0.380), and maxillary anterior forceps (p=0.808), did not yield statistically significant results. The assessment of the procedural simplicity of the one-hand scoop technique showed a satisfaction rate of over 40%, whereas the application of dental tweezers resulted in a satisfaction rate of 30%. However, the use of dental tweezers for needle recapping resulted in a satisfaction rate of over 50%, compared to a satisfaction rate of 30% for the one-handed scoop technique. There is no statistically significant difference in the assessment of the efficacy of dental tweezers and the one-hand scoop technique, bayonet root forceps, mandibular anterior forceps, maxillary anterior forceps, and dental tweezers for the needle capping technique. Therefore, dental forceps can be used instead of the one-handed scoop approach. The needle recapping procedure outlined in our study, aimed at preventing needle stick injuries, is simple to implement, and all dental specialties have convenient access to the required instruments.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices about Biomedical Waste Management among Healthcare Personnel in Primary Healthcare Centers in Western Maharashtra

Background: The absence of proper waste management, lack of awareness about the health hazards of biomedicalwastes, and poor control of waste disposal pose the most critical problems. It is essential for healthcare workersto have the knowledge, practice, and safe method for biomedical waste handling. Our objective is to assess theknowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) about BMW management among healthcare workers working at PHCin rural health areas.Methods: The present community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among the healthcare personnelin primary healthcare centers in randomly selected Taluka of Western Maharashtra. For this questionnaire-basedcross-sectional study, a questionnaire was designed which includes,relevant aspects of BMW Management likeknowledge about various types of biomedical waste, its disposal in various color-coded bags, and its transport.Through the one-to-one interview, information was obtained as per the questionnaire. Data entry was done in aMicrosoft Excel sheet and analysis was done. Proportion & percentage were used to interpret the result.Conclusions: There was a lack of knowledge regarding segregation & transmission of diseases through BMWamong sanitary staff. It also shows that enough precautions were not being taken for preventing needle stickinjuries among nurses and sanitary staff.

Prevalence and risk factors of needle stick injury among healthcare workers in the emergency department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and prevalence of needle stick injuries (NSIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs) working in the emergency department (ED) at King Saud Medical City (KSMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 194 HCWs in the ED at KSMC. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect the data about participants' demographics, work characteristics, previous exposure to NSI, and circumstances related to NSI. Results: Among the studied 194 HCWs, 45.5% had an age range from 18-30 years, 50.5% were females, 57.7% had a Saudi nationality, 41.2% had a work experience of 5-10 years, and 38.1% were nurses. Of them, 25.8% had previous exposure to NSI and among them, 60% had NSI once, 48% had a superficial injury, 16% had a penetration of gloves, and 84% wore personal protective equipment. The most common device associated with injury was a syringe (32%), 52% received medical attention within 2 hours, and 64% washed the site with soap. NSI was significantly higher among HCWs aged 31-40 years, with a work experience of 5-10 years, and among nurses. Conclusion: NSIs were frequent among the participants. Hospital managers and health policymakers should develop plans to boost healthcare professionals' adherence to general precautions.

Prevalence of Needlestick Injuries among Iranian Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis.

Injuries caused by sharp objects are a major health risk for nurses. These injuries can be extremely dangerous and lead to various diseases. The purpose of this study was to establish the pooled prevalence of Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) among nurses in Iran. This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eligible articles were searched from five electronic databases (Scientific Information Database (SID), Magiran, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus) and one search engine. A random effects model was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence. The heterogeneity of the sample was tested using the I2 index, and the meta-regression function was used to evaluate variables suspected of heterogeneity at the 0.05 significance level. Finally, 21 articles were analyzed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (ver. 2.2.064). Based on the random-effects model, the frequency of NSIs among Iranian nurses is 18.70% (95% CI: 15.10%-22.90%). The highest frequency is recorded in a teaching hospital in Tehran in 2007 (19.80%; 95% CI: 16.40%-23.70%), and the lowest frequency was recorded in a teaching hospital in Tehran in 2008 (17.90%; 95% CI: 14.60%-21.80%). Sample size, mean age, and work experience were significantly associated with and mean and frequency of NSIs in nurses (p < 0.05). NSIs occur in about one-fifth of nurses in Iranian hospitals. In addition to its cost burden, the increase in NSIs has negative consequences for nurses. Therefore, health policymakers and managers must take serious action to reduce these injuries.

FMEA-based risk management improves the ability of oral healthcare personnel to prevent needlestick injuries.

To explore the application value of the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method in the risk management of needlestick injuries among oral healthcare personnel. A total of 37 healthcare workers from the dental department of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, were selected as study subjects. Routine risk management procedures were followed from January 2021 to December 2021, serving as the control group, while FMEA-based risk management was implemented from January 2022 to December 2022, representing the research group. The Risk Priority Number (RPN) was calculated, and interventions were implemented for the top five identified failure modes. The RPN score, incidence of needlestick injuries, healthcare personnel's knowledge and awareness levels, prevention behavior, and rate of satisfaction with management were compared between the two groups. FMEA-based risk management identified weak knowledge of protection, disorganized placement of sharp instruments, failure to adhere to operational standards, improper operational procedures, and insufficient regulations for preventing needlestick injuries as the top five failure modes. The RPN scores for these modes were significantly lower in the research group (P<0.05). The research group also experienced a lower frequency and incidence of needlestick injury (P<0.05), along with higher levels of healthcare knowledge, awareness of prevention, and prevention behavior (P<0.05). Additionally, satisfaction with management was higher in the research group compared to the control group (P<0.05). FMEA-based risk management can improve the ability of oral healthcare personnel to prevent needlestick injury, reduce the occurrence of such incidents, and enhance satisfaction with management. This approach holds promise for wider adoption.

Prevalence of Needle Stick Injury among Healthcare Workers in Savelugu Municipal Hospital

Introduction: Sub-Saharan Africa is home to over 28 million HIV-positive individuals, and over 95% of HIV infections occur in poor nations there. In Ghana, there are no official mechanisms in place that allow individuals to report Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) and receive advice specific to occupational health. Health care management does not prioritize it because of financial restrictions, and HCWs have not yet recognized it as a significant problem. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of needle stick injuries among staff at Savelugu Hospital.&#x0D; Methods: Savelugu Hospital health trainees provided data for a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Three hundred and thirty-three health professionals were interviewed using the closed-ended and open-ended questionnaire. A simple random sampling method was employed to select research participants. A 95% confidence level was applied to all statistical analyses, and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.&#x0D; Findings: The age distribution is 34.00 with a standard deviation of 6.3. Of the 122, more over half (55.2%) were nurses, and 96.6 percent had infection prevention control (IPC) training. The majority of respondents (87.2%) reported having sustained a needle stick injury; 62.1% of those who suffered NSI did so using a hypodermic needle. According to the study, needle stick injuries were significantly correlated with age (p=0.031), sex (p=0.045), and highest educational status (p=0.004). The following are contributing factors to needle stick injuries: lack of guidelines on handling healthcare sharps (65.0%), poor housekeeping (20.7%), overuse of medical sharps (36.9%), unsafe medical sharps (36.9%), inadequate supply of barrier products (57.1%), unclear work procedure (57.1%), and unsafe practices (68.5%).&#x0D; In conclusion: our study showed that among healthcare workers at Savelugu Hospital, NSIs were highly prevalent. The majority of NSIs were caused by hypodermic needles, one of the common sharps used in hospitals, and most responders had suffered an injury between one and two times in the past. Needlestick injuries were correlated with age, sex, and educational attainment.

Direct Care Nurses' Needlestick Injury Experiences: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Even when education and the use of safety equipment are emphasized, nurses frequently experience needlestick injuries. Understanding the risk situations and coping mechanisms for needlestick injuries experienced by nurses facilitates their prevention. We aimed to explore and describe the phenomenon of needlestick injuries through the research questions: (1) What causes nurses to suffer from needlestick injuries? (2) How to cope after a needlestick injury? and (3) What are the recommendations for needlestick injury prevention? This qualitative descriptive study involved focus group interviews with 31 direct care nurses in 6 groups who had experienced needlestick injuries while working in different acute care hospitals across 3 regions in South Korea. Data were collected from January 29 to March 29, 2022, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The average age of the participating nurses was 29.7 years. The following 3 themes were identified: various needlestick injury experiences, post-needlestick injury coping, and expectations regarding needlestick injuries. Risk situations and coping mechanisms of nurses who experienced needlestick injuries were diverse. Emergency situations and novice nurses were the causes of most of the needlestick injuries. Often, personal protective equipment was found cumbersome. Reporting needlestick injuries depended on the work environment.

IMPACT OF NEEDLE STICK INJURIES ON STUDENT NURSES AT KTH HOSPITAL, PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Needle stick injury (NSI) is a significant hazard in healthcare settings that poses a potential risk of transmission of blood-borne diseases. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence of NSI among student nurses in a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar and their knowledge about NSI prevention and control. The data collected through structured questionnaires, and the sample size was 147. The results showed 37% of students had experienced NSI during the last six months, while 70% were vaccinated and 75% were screened against HBS, HCV, and HIV. The study emphasizes the need for further training, workshops, and close supervision to prevent NSI complications and enhance safe practices during healthcare services. The positive effect of free vaccination and government attention to increasing the strength of nurses to control the increasing rate of NSI is also highlighted. Due to lack of proper supervision by trained staff, student nurses often suffer from needle stick injuries during their practical work. Patients may admitted to the hospital already contaminated with communicable diseases, and their beds are not labeled to indicate this. Exposure to NSIs can cause fear, insecurity, and low self-esteem in student nurses. There are many psychological consequences associated with NSIs, such as fear, anxiety, and depression. Student nurses are at substantial risk for NSIs because they often perform invasive procedures with minimal knowledge and experience. Education and awareness-raising about NSI prevention and reporting have been shown to positively impact previous studies. Observational studies conducted in Pakistan have recommended that nurse students receive further education to reduce the incidence of NSIs, as they are often deprived of advanced knowledge and experience. A lack of staff in hospitals can contribute to NSIs as nurses may ignore their safety while performing their duties. Two-handed recapping is responsible for approximately 80% of needle stick injuries.

A Quasi Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Learning Module on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Prevention of Needle Stick Injury among Housekeeping Staff in Hospital, Perungullathur, Chennai

A Quasi Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Learning Module on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Prevention of Needle Stick Injury among Housekeeping Staff in Hospital, Perungullathur, Chennai

EE439 Prevention of Needlestick Injuries and Blood Exposures Among Kenyan Healthcare Workers Using Safety Engineered Devices

Exposure to blood-borne pathogens poses a serious risk to health care workers (HCW). In Kenya, 76.6% of occupational exposures to HIV/AIDs among HCWs were attributed to needle stick injuries (NSIs). Blood exposures (BEs) are strongly associated with lack of safety device use and inadequate safety practices. Safety engineered devices (SEDs) can be a cost-effective solution as they can minimize the involved risks.