Full transcript
0:05As an [music] MA, you'll frequently
0:07handle sharps, needles, syringes,
0:09lancets, surgical [music] scissors, and
0:11even potentially broken glass slides.
0:14Because of the risk of infection from
0:15bloodborne pathogens, [music] clinical
0:17duties like phabbotomy require strict
0:19adherence to safety protocols. As a
0:22medical assistant, you will follow
0:24OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard,
0:26which limits exposure to blood and other
0:28potentially infectious materials by
0:30adhering to four primary methods of
0:32protection: universal precautions,
0:35engineering controls, work practice
0:38controls, and personal protective
0:40equipment or PPE. In this video, we will
0:44focus on using engineering controls to
0:46manage sharps safely and properly
0:48dispose of used sharps. Why is proper
0:51disposal so important? Approximately 23%
0:54of all injuries affected someone who
0:56wasn't the original person to use the
0:58sharps device. Proper disposal keeps
1:01others safe and prevents the spread of
1:02contagions. We primarily use engineering
1:05controls to limit exposure. This means
1:08using devices with built-in safety
1:10features like needles that retract or
1:12shield. Most shielded needles use one of
1:15the following activation methods: a
1:16thumb activated sliding shield, a hinged
1:19shield, or an automatic spring-loaded
1:22shield. With any device, the first step
1:24is to familiarize yourself with the tool
1:27and understand its safety features. In
1:30this video, we'll look at how to safely
1:32use a needle with a thumb activated
1:34sliding shield. After drawing blood or
1:37given an injection, you must immediately
1:39activate the engineered safety feature.
1:42Simply use your thumb to slide the
1:44shield into place covering the needle.
1:46Confirm the shield is locked in place.
1:50Visually verify that the shield fully
1:52covers the entire needle tip. Never
1:55assume the safety feature is engaged.
1:58Always double check. Once activated, the
2:00shield must remain locked until
2:02disposal.
2:04Never set the device down. Place the
2:06shielded device directly into the sharps
2:09container. Huge rule. Never routinely
2:11recap a contaminated needle.
2:14Contaminated needles must never be bent,
2:16cut, or removed before disposal.
2:20If recapping is required for rare
2:22specific circumstances, use the approved
2:24single hand technique or a mechanical
2:27device. For proper disposal, OSHA
2:30dictates that you must immediately place
2:31the sharp into a designated puncture
2:34resistant sharps container. Every
2:36patient room should have one. Do not
2:38begin your procedure without ensuring
2:40that there is a proper sharps container
2:42in your room ready for use. Ensure the
2:45entire sharp is deposited directly into
2:47the container. Critically, sharps
2:50containers must never be overfilled.
2:52They must be closed and replaced when
2:55they reach the fill line or about 3/4
2:57full. Finally, if an exposure incident
3:00occurs like a needle stick, follow
3:02postexposure guidelines. Immediately
3:05wash the exposed area, flush splashes to
3:08the nose, mouth, or skin, and report the
3:11exposure right away. Mastering these
3:14procedures is paramount to your role in
3:16infection control and workplace safety.