California Assembly Bill 1208 went into effect on July 1, 1999 requiring all healthcare employers to provide engineered safety devices if they were available and effective. Four exceptions to this regulation were allowed but could not readily be claimed at the time. The University of the Pacific conducted bench tests and clinical trials of available safety needles. Subsequently, one safety needle system (SafeMate) was used exclusively in all clinics within the institution for six months. During the six-month period, 36.4% of all exposure incidents were attributed to the safety needle. For the same six month period in each of the four preceding years, the percentage of needlesticks using traditional needles was 36.6% (1995), 40.6% (1996), 20.7% (1997), and 34.4% (1998) of total reported injuries. The combined average of needle-related exposures for the four years was 33.3% of the total number of exposures (about 10% less than with the safety needle). Clinical evaluators identified multiple problems with their ability to adequately use the safety needle based upon eleven evaluation criteria. Fogging of the protective sheath and difficulty in visualizing the tip of the needle during insertion were the most significant problems. Results of this study have led the institution to claim an exemption to the regulation on the grounds that the safety-enhanced device is not safer. In July 2000, the institution will remove safety needles from all clinics and return to traditional anesthetic needles.
Learning Objectives: From this session, attendees will understand regulations mandating the use of safety-enhanced devices in dentistry, advantages and disadvantages of dental anesthetic safety needles, and outcomes of a six-month clinical experience
Keywords: Injury Prevention, Occupational Safety
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Septodont;
Training for Development of Innovative Control Technology (TDICT)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I was a paid consultant of TDICT and involved in the development of the bloodborne exposure form used to track occupational exposures discussed in this paper.