OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, applies to all occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infections material as defined in the standard. Employers that have covered employees are required to develop and implement an Exposure Control Plan to minimize employee exposure. One of the elements that must be included in the Exposure Control Plan is to document annual consideration and implementation of safer medical devices.
If you have employees working with human source material and sharps, be sure to solicit input from the end users on a regular basis to determine if they are aware of any safer sharps options that would reduce their potential for an incident resulting in exposure. Documentation on an annual basis can be accomplished via different avenues, and it is a good idea to alter your request for input on an annual basis. A couple avenues include having end users complete a safer sharps survey or documented solicitation for input during annual training sessions.
Be sure to meet all of the criteria for developing and implementing an Exposure Control Plan, including documenting annual evaluation of safer sharps.