June 21, 2002—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is clarifying its policy that removing contaminated needles from blood tube holders is prohibited in order to reduce the dangers of needlesticks for healthcare workers and others who handle medical sharps.
OSHA explains in a letter of interpretation that the bloodborne pathogens standard requires blood tube holders with needles attached to be immediately discarded into a sharps container after the device’s safety feature is activated.
In the revised Bloodborne Pathogens compliance directive, the agency explains that removing a needle from a used blood-drawing/phlebotomy device is rarely, if ever, required by a medical procedure. Because these devices involve the use of a double-ended needle, removing the needle exposes employees to additional risk, as does the increased manipulation of a contaminated device.
The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard also prohibits contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps from being bent, recapped, or removed, unless the employer demonstrates that no alternative is feasible or that such action is required by a specific medical or dental procedure.
