The ergonomics of safe needle disposal following venous cannula insertion—in search of a solution to a problem

Extracted from text ... PRIZE SUBMISSION Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia & Analgesia - July 2003 15 The ergonomics of safe needle disposal following venous cannula insertion - in search of a solution to a problem Needlestick injury remains a persistent and unresolved problem in the various working environments in which anaesthesiologists practice, a problem which is anxiety-provoking, time-consuming, costly and potentially dangerous. In spite of comprehensive protocols in our hospitals addressing the safe handling of sharps, most anaesthesiogists will acknowledge that hollow-bore needle disposal is often haphazard and unpredictable. This is particularly true of emergency situations, when dealing with cannulation. The extensive ..