Back to Basics: Sharps Safety

Perioperative team members who handle sharp devices or equipment are at risk for sharps injuries. Because sharps injuries can expose individuals to potentially infectious diseases, safety practices should be followed at all times. Health care workers and patients are at risk when a sharps injury occurs, so protocols, including work practice and engineering controls, should be in place at every facility. This article provides guidance on the steps that can be followed to minimize risk of a sharps injury.