The Center for Disease and Control - OSHA - GAO

A needle stick injury is a percutaneous piercing wound typically set by a needle point, but possibly also by other sharp instruments or objects. Commonly encountered by people handling needles in the medical setting, such injuries are an occupational hazard in the medical community. These events are of concern because of the risk to transmit blood-borne diseases through the passage of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus which causes AIDS.

Despite their seriousness as a medical event, needle stick injuries have been neglected: most go unreported and ICD-10 coding is not available. On the other hand, as needle sticks have been recognized as occupational hazards, their prevention has become the subject of regulations in an effort to reduce and eliminate this preventable event. Cross-contamination has no boundaries when it comes to needle-stick accidents.

The CDC estimates 80% of needle-sticks are preventable. The surveys resulting from the Prevention Act have revealed 80% of healthcare workers feel the answer lies within keeping your hands and fingers behind the needle. Cross-contamination can go both ways between patient and caregiver. OSHA estimates 40% of needle sticks are not reported because of possible ramifications and other reasons unknown. According to the CDC estimates 47% of our healthcare workers are being tested and treated at any given time, because of cross-contamination exposure and as a preventative measures. Some of these diseases cannot be completely cured. They can lead to lifelong treatments and lives lost; this is not counting social impacts and monumental expenses.

General Accounting Office (GAO) estimates the average cost is $3000-$5000 for testing and preventative treatments. They also estimate this cost to be at $3-$5 billion dollars annually. The estimated cost of safety syringes is $370 million annually, OSHA has desirable characteristics for safety devices and Vial^PRO meet and exceed these characteristics.

OSHA - Desirable characteristics of safety devices

"Improved engineering controls are often among the most effective approaches to reducing occupational hazards and therefore are an important element of a needle stick prevention program. Such controls include eliminating the unnecessary use of needles and implementing devices with safety features. A number of sources have identified the desirable characteristics of safety devices [OSHA 1999c; FDA 1992; Jagger et al. 1988; Chiarello 1995; Quebbeman and Short 1995; Pugliese 1998; Fisher 1999; ECRI 1999]. These characteristics include the following:

• The safety feature is an integral part of the device.


• The device preferably works passively (i.e., it requires no activation by the user). If user activation is necessary...the user can easily tell whether the safety feature is


• The safety feature cannot be deactivated and remains


• The device performs reliably.


• The device is easy to use and practical.


• The device is safe and effective for patient care.

Although each of these characteristics are desirable, some are not feasible, applicable or available for certain health care situations. For example, needles will always be necessary where alternatives for skin penetration are not available. Also, a safety feature that requires activation by the user might be preferable to one that is passive in some cases. Each device must be considered on its own merit and ultimately on its ability to reduce workplace injuries. The desirable characteristics listed here should thus serve only as a guideline for device design and selection."

• With Vial^PRO there are no setting the vials or the cap down.


• No picking up the vials for multiple injections.


• The option of removing and replacing the syringe cap if necessary.


• No one holds the vials or ampules for anyone else.


• When withdrawing medication you have a second chance to view the labels thus reducing errors.


• It provides the most complete control of the vials or ampules while filling a syringe.


• It is simply effective.


• Keeping one's hands behind the needle at all times.


• We can color-code and conveniently mount them anywhere it's needed.