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Needlestick and sharps injuries occur when needles or other sharp objects inadvertently puncture a person’s skin, and can happen “when people use, disassemble or dispose of needles,” according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety.
Raleigh, NC — An estimated 781 to 1,484 needlestick-related injuries – a rate of 2.7 per 100 workers – occur annually at solid waste and recycling material recovery facilities, according to a recent report from the Environmental Research and Education Foundation and the Solid Waste Association of North America.
Predominantly a health care-related risk, needlestick and sharps injuries are serious. NIOSH states that these types of injuries occur when a worker comes in contact with a contaminated needle, scalpel or other sharps.
Warrendale, PA – The health care industry has not made sufficient progress on reducing the number of needlestick injuries among workers, according to the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare.
Charlottesville, VA – Needlestick injuries in the health care industry decreased significantly after passage of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000, according to a study from the University of Virginia.