• Injuries can occur in an operating room.surgery and surgeon"s work: a hard case operation image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
  
  Injuries in the operating room can have lifelong consequence for medical staff members. Therefore, the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000 was set forth by Congress to modify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. According to OSHA, employers are required to identify, evaluate and implement safer medical devices. It applies to all employers and employees who are at risk of contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
  
  

Scalpel Injuries

• Since operating rooms contain various instruments used for cutting, such as scalpels, cuts are an injury risk for surgeons and staff members. Scalpels have a razor sharp blade used to cut through skin and muscle. Therefore, scalpel injuries are most likely to cause deep cuts or severe injuries. Passing scalpels during surgery poses the largest threat for injury.
  
  

Suture Sticks

• As determined by a study performed by the American College of Surgeons, most injuries in operating rooms result from sticks from suture needles. These injuries are more than 2.5 times more likely to occur than scalpel injuries. Needle sticks from suturing occur generally when the surgery or operation is complete and the area is being closed.
  
  

Syringe Injuries

• Passing syringes can result in operating room injuries. Syringes are used to administer medication. In addition to the risk of the medication causing injury, but the needle may be contaminated with infectious diseases, such as HIV. Proper disposal of a syringe is important in an operating room. Using the medical waste container provided helps ensure no one is injured from a syringe left lying in the open.