First Reporting of Needle Stick/Sharps Injury

If a needle stick or a sharps injury occurs and the needle or device has not been contaminated with blood or OPIM, this is not a sharps injury.

• Complete the OARS form but under the section, Nature of the Injury or Illness, check Traumatic Injury, Open/Surface Wounds, Burns, and Environmental Conditions. Without blood or other infectious matrerial, this is reported as a cut/laceration/puncture wound.
• On the OSHA 300 Recordable form, do not check "yes" for needle stick/sharps injury.

If the employee receives a splash to a mucous membrane (i.e., eyes, mouth, nose) or non-intact skin, this exposure should be reported to OARS.

• Describe the Event or Exposure as Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environment and check the box "Bodily Fluid Splash."
• If the exposure incident results in diagnosis of a blood borne illness such as HIV, Hep B or C
  
  OR
  
  Results in death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid (i.e., prophylactic treatment).
• Under the section, Nature of Injury or Illness, check the box Infectious, Bacterial, and Viral Disorders. Under the section, Source of the Injury or Illness, chose the object or substance (found in the pop-up menu) that directly harmed the employee.
• Be sure to answer, "yes" on the OSHA 300 Recordable page to "Does the incident involve a sharps/needle stick or a splash incident involving blood borne pathogens?"

If a needle stick or a sharps injury occurs and the needle or device has been contaminated with blood or OPIM

• Under this section, choose Event or Exposure as Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environment, check the box Exposure to Caustic, Harmful or Allergic Substances.
• Under the section, Nature of Injury or Illness, check the box Infectious, Bacterial, and Viral Disorders. Under the section, Source of the Injury or Illness, chose the object or substance (found in the pop-up menu) that directly harmed the employee.
• Be sure to answer, "yes" on the OSHA 300 Recordable page to "Does the incident involve a sharps/needle stick or a splash incident involving blood borne pathogens?"
• If you receive immediate medical treatment beyond first aid (i.e., prophylactic treatment), please check "yes" on the OSHA 300 recordable page (upper left hand corner.
• If the injury turns into an illness, please indicate this when you receive the 72 hour and 30 day tickler and update the OSHA 300 Recordable page by answering the following questions "yes."
  1. Has there been a change in the injury or illness since it was first reported?
  2. Did the previous injury turn into a subsequent illness?