This law modifies the Occupational Safety and Health Act by introducing a new group of requirements in the medical community. Sharps, as they are called, are needles, puncture devices, knives, scalpels, and other tools that can harm either the person using them or someone else. The law and its regulations provide rules related to handling these devices, disposing of them, and encouraging the invention of new devices that will reduce or eliminate the risk associated with injury due to sharps. Sharps injuries are to be recorded on the OSHA 300 log with “privacy case” listed and not the employee’s name. Blood-borne pathogens and transmission of human blood-borne illnesses such as AIDS/HIV and hepatitis are key targets of this law. Reducing the amount of injury and subsequent illness due to puncture, stab, or cut wounds is a primary objective. There are communication requirements, including employment poster content requirements.
For more information, see www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-106publ430/html/PLAW-
106publ430.htm.
