The number and rate of sharps injuries reported by hospital workers in the state remain steady despite efforts to prevent them, according to recent data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. State and federal laws require hospitals to reduce the risk of injury to workers by providing equipment with sharps injury prevention features, implementing policies for safe work practices and collecting data about sharps injuries.  

In July, DPH released its latest Data Brief showing, among other findings: 

• Hospitals reported 2,878 sharps injuries in 2021 and 2,743 in 2022, which correspond to rates of 16.4% and 15.7% of licensed beds in the state. The brief states these rates are consistent with those observed since 2012, “demonstrating a plateau in the sharps injury rate for more than a decade.”
• The number of injuries involving sharps with injury-prevention features compared to those without these safety features has grown: 49% vs. 44% in 2021 and 51% vs. 42% in 2022. DPH states this may reflect increased use of devices with injury-prevention features but also indicates that these features are “not the sole solution” to sharps injuries. 

Beyond recommending that hospitals provide workers with thorough training, DPH advises them to learn from the reports at their own facilities to find opportunities to improve safety: 

Hospitals are encouraged to look at the circumstances of these injuries to determine the timing of injuries relative to use of the item, evaluate the effectiveness of the mechanisms involved, identify gaps in work practices, and assess the availability and placement of disposal containers.