Safety Alert
Phlebotomy Safety Tips
A Phlebotomist is responsible for drawing blood for analysis or transfusion which is taught through various phlebotomy training programs and classes. Universal standards assume that all bodily fluids are potentially infectious. Phlebotomists should follow disease-specific standards and procedures set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).
We at NPCE believe that avoiding contact with bodily fluids and adding protective barriers greatly reduces the risk of transmission and exposure to infection and disease. Phlebotomists should protect themselves and their patients by wearing personal protective equipment. Equipment includes gloves, face masks, lab gowns or coats, and head coverings.
NPCE in compliance with the standards set by the CDC, OSHA and CLSI beleives; there are general practices a phlebotomist should follow. These include hand-washing after handling specimens, keeping laboratories and clinics free of eating and drinking, immediate cleaning of spills, and proper waste disposal.
Needle-stick injuries accidentally expose phlebotomists to potentially hazardous blood. There are specific procedures for dealing with needle-stick injuries. In the instance of needle-stick injuries, the injury should be encouraged to bleed before being cleaned and disinfected. The site should then be bandaged accordingly. The phlebotomist should be sure to make a record of the injury and report it to the lab manager as well as the occupational health or accident and emergency department.
NPCE phlebotomists need to be aware of the risks involved with venipuncture and other blood collection procedures. NPCE phlebotomy training programs educate students in regards to safety and protection controls and protocols. NPCE follows curriculum guidelines set by OSHA, CLSI, and Department of Education.
Certification through national agencies, like the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the American Medical Technologists (AMT), ensures that phlebotomists have thorough knowledge and understanding of the safety procedures required of phlebotomists. Feel free to browse around this site to find more information about how to become a phlebotomist.
Below are several tips to help you maintain a safe and healthy work environment:
• Maintain a clean work area.
• Use personal protective equipment.
• Include safety instructions in every procedure you require to be completed by someone else.
• Focus your energy on preventing your most common incidents. This means you will have to keep an accurate OSHA incident log.
• If a machine is becoming unsafe, shut it down before someone gets hurt.
• Maintain the machinery in good working order. Many times employees get into dangerous situations by having to compensate for a machine defect or wear. In the case of wear, it may have occurred so gradually that they think it is normal. A strong preventive maintenance program makes for a strong safety program.
• Avoid unnecessary hazards.
• Maintain a clean work area. Potential exposures to hazardous material and conditions can be dramatically reduced simply by keeping the work area clean.