More Health Care Workers Protected
October 1, 2008 2:25 PM
McGuinty Government Extends Needle Safety To Additional Workplaces
Safety-engineered needles have been designed to eliminate or minimize the risk of needle punctures to the user. Needlestick injuries are a significant concern of nurses and other health care workers.
The government proposes to extend the regulation in 2010 to other health care workplaces such as home care, doctors' offices and ambulance services as part of its Healthy Work Environments Initiative.
QUICK FACTS
- Needlestick injuries can transmit serious blood-borne infectious diseases such as HIV / AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
- According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), there were just over 1,600 reported needlestick injuries in Ontario’s health system in 2006.
- Using safety-engineered medical sharps reduces injuries. Toronto East General Hospital reported a sharps injury reduction of 80 per cent (i.e., from 41 cases in 2003 to eight cases in 2004) and the elimination of blood collection injuries after implementing safety-engineered medical sharps.
LEARN MORE
ontario.ca/labour
"We value the hard work and dedication of the approximately 500,000 health care workers who are on the front lines protecting us each and every day. Health care workers protect us. It is only fitting that we take action to protect them."
– Peter Fonseca
Minister of Labour
"Health care workers deserve safe and healthy work environments. This action will further reduce the number of needle-stick injuries in Ontario by ensuring even more caregivers are protected."
– David Caplan
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
Communities
