WEB050-2023

Live on April 19, 2023 1:00 – 2:00 pm Eastern

Building an Annual Sharps Review Plan
By Amber Hogan Mitchell, DrPH, MPH, CPH

Member: $25

Non-Member: $45  

Topic Overview:

Based on national sharps injury data, needlestick injuries do not appear to be declining despite the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (BPS) being in place for more than 30 years in the US.  In fact, injuries have been increasing during the COVID pandemic.  This webinar is being offered based on requests from AOHP members asking for resources on how to build an annual sharps review plan. 

Presenters will describe the requirements of the OSHA BPS and what elements need to be included in a facility’s Exposure Control Plan (ECP).  We will summarize national injury surveillance data and use that as the “blueprint” to identify where a facility can focus based on frequency of device use and injury incidence.  Suggestions will be offered on how to incorporate a facility’s Sharps Injury Log into annual review and how to document that review into the ECP.

Objectives:

1. Describe the requirements of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Exposure Control Plan and Sharps Injury Log
2. Summarize national surveillance data for needlesticks and sharps injuries
3. Identify how to build an annual sharps review plan based on in-facility data and device use
4. Describe how to incorporate a sharps review into action and document it in the Exposure Control Plan

Speaker Bio:

 Dr. Mitchell's career has been focused on public health and occupational safety and health related to preventing infectious disease. She is currently President and Executive Director of the International Safety Center and is the 2019 Past Chair of the Occupational Health and Safety section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and serves as Member-At-Large for the AOHP Southwest Chapter Board. She is also a Senior Science Adviser for the NIEHS Worker Training Program for COVID-19 response. Dr. Mitchell holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine.

Dr. Mitchell began her career as the first OSHA National Bloodborne Pathogens Coordinator and has received several Secretary of Labor Excellence awards for her work on bioterrorism and public preparedness. She holds a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree from the University of Texas School of Public Health and a Master’s in Public Health from The George Washington University. She is certified in Public Health as a member of the very first CPH cohort offered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

She also published her first book “Preventing Occupational Exposures to Infectious Disease in Health Care” for professionals with responsibility for infection prevention and control and occupational health and safety programs.

Requirements for Completion

Successful completion of this activity includes submitting an accurate registration, making necessary payment, and reviewing all activity slides and the webinar presentation. Completion of the evaluation form is required.

Type of Activity: Knowledge

Disclosures: AOHP does not guarantee, warrant, certify, verify, and/or authorize the content of this seminar, and/or any subsequent use of the information presented at this webinar. This webinar is not a clinical/medical service but is intended for educational purposes only. Planners of this educational activity have no real or apparent financial, professional or personal conflict of interest to disclose. Faculty/presenter disclosure is stated following each presenter’s bio-sketch. AOHP has implemented a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest before the delivery of this educational activity.

Commercial or Sponsor Support: N/A
 

Continuing education Contact Hour: This activity awards one (1) contact hour.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 17664.

Conflict of Interest: A conflict of interest occurs when an individual has an opportunity to affect educational content about healthcare products or services of a commercial company with which she/he has a financial, professional or personal relationship.

The planners and presenter(s)/author(s) of this education activity have disclosed no relevant financial, professional or personal relationships with any commercial companies about this activity.

Non-Endorsement of Products: The Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare's accredited provider status refers only to continuing education activities and does not imply that there is real or implied endorsement of any product, service or company referred to in this activity nor of any company subsidizing costs related to the activity.