your real life risks when using scalpel blades everyday - Mopec

What do these 

people have in 

common 

Apart from that they all work in the medical field like you v1.0

www.mopec.com 

Order Number AJ150 

YOUR REAL LIFE RISKS WHEN USING 

SCALPEL BLADES EVERYDAY


AREAS OF BLADEFLASK USE 

Dental Surgery 

Private Medical Practices 

Laboratories 

Medical Schools 

Mortuary 

Pathology 

Podiatry 

Veterinary surgery

AREAS OF INJURY AND INFECTION RISK 


• Nurse working in an ICU was stuck by an I.V. catheter used on a patient with end-stage 

AIDS; she was infected with HIV as a result 

– Advances in Exposure Prevention – Vol.7, No.7, 2005, p.25 

• Nurse infected with hepatitis C (HCV) from a blood exposure sustained at work 

– Advances in Exopsure Prevention – Vol.5, No.2, 2000, p.13 

• Laboratory worker acquired West Nile Virus Infection from a cut to his thumb from a 

scalpel blade 


• Firefighter/Paramedic infected with HIV; he sustained massive blood and body fluids 

exposures on a number occasions during his nine years as a paramedic 


• Surgeon diagnosed with HCV infection, from an occupational sharps injury 


• Mortuary Embalmers – 39% reported needlestick in past 12 months (1991), 3% 

percutaneous injuries had exposures to AIDS patients 

– Journal of Occupational Medicine – Vol.33, No.8, August 1991, p.874 

• 11 US and Canadian veterinary schools reported 1-5 scalpel/knife cuts 

– Langley, R.L. et al. (1996) A Survey of Peronsl and Occupational Health and Safety Training for US and Canadian 

Veterinary Schools. Journal of Agromedicine, Vol.3, Iss.4 December 1996, p.23-25 

• A survey for dental students showed that the majority of injuries were from needlesticks 

and mishaps with hands instruments. 

– Wood, A.J. et.al. (2006) Student Occupational Exposure Incidence: Perception Versus Reality. Journal of Dental 

Education 70(10): 1081-1088. 

• All healthcare workers face a low but real risk of occupational infection from HIV 

exposure 

– Advances in Exposure Prevention – Vol.4, No.4, 1999, p.43


OUR ULTIMATE AIM / TAKE HOME MESSAGE 

To inform you that staff safety and patient safety are 

no longer mutually exclusive 

Yesterday’s thinking 

STAFF 

SAFETY 

PATIENT 

SAFETY 

Today’s thinking 

STAFF 

SAFETY 

PATIENT 

SAFETY 

Tomorrow’s thinking 

(congruent thinking) 

SAFETY 

FOR 

ALL 

STAFF 

SAFETY 

PATIENT 

SAFETY


COST AND CONFUSION 

OF A SCALPEL INJURY 

… and don‟t forget the personal cost


What is the WORST thing 

that can happen to you 

from a sharps injury

Order Number AJ150

OCCUPATIONAL SHARP INJURIES - 

INFECTED 


Diane Mawyer 

Virginia RN 

Diagnosed Hep C: 1993 

Lisa Arnold 

Pennsylvania, RN 

Diagnosed HIV: 1993 

Lisa Black 

Nevada, RN 

Diagnosed HIV & Hep C: 1998 

William Fisher 

US Surgeon: 

Diagnosed Hep C 2002


OTHER EXAMPLES IN DIFFERENT FIELDS 

Adapted from Surveillance of Occupationally Acquired HIV/AIDS in Healthcare Personnel, as of December 2006. URL: 

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/bp_hcp_w_hiv.html


WHAT IS THE ‘LEAST WORST’ THING 

THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU 

Uncomplicated injury 

The cost of even an 

uncomplicated injury 

could range from $500 to 

$2,000 

And no sex for 3 months 

… how understanding will 

your partner be


SEVERED TENDON, ARTERY OR NERVE 

If the injury requires 

microsurgery, it might 

cost as much as 

$100,000 

Up to three months of 

rehabilitation 

Along with the loss of 

your salary 

Jagger, J., E. H. Hunt, et al. (1990). "Estimated cost of needlestick injuries for six major needled devices." 

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 11(11): 584-8.

COST OF AN INFECTION 

How confident are you that the hospital will pay 

Davis, M.S. (2004) “Take „Time Out‟ for Patient Safety and Worker Safety in the OR.” 

Advances in Exposure Prevention 7(2): 22-23.


SHARPS INJURY STATISTICS 

Remember it affects your whole family


INJURY FREQUENCY 

 

Healthcare workers in the United States report between 600,000 and 1 million 

sharps injuries per year 1 

70% of sharps injuries go unreported 1 

41% of sharp injuries occur after use and prior to disposal of a sharp device 2 

7-11% of sharps injuries are caused by scalpel blades 2 

 

 

Scalpel blade injuries are in the top five common type of sharps injury and second 

only to needle-stick 3 

In operating rooms, scalpel blade injuries are the second most common type of 

sharps injury, second only to suture needles 3 

1. Matson, K. (2000) "States begin passing sharps and needle-stick legislation to protect health care workers." AORN Journal 72(4): 

699-703, 705-7. 

2. "CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) Sharps Injury Prevention Workbook." from 

http://www.cdc.gov/SharpsSafety/workbook.html 

3. Jagger, J., M. Bentley, et al. (1998) "A study of patterns and prevention of blood exposures in OR personnel." AORN Journal 67(5): 

979-81, 983-4, 986-7 passim.


 

INFECTION RATES 

The chances of infection rates from a single contaminated 

needlestick or sharp instrument injury are as follows: 

HIV at 0.2% to 0.5% 

Currently there is no vaccine or treatment available to either prevent or 

cure HIV 

HBV at 30% (Hepatitis B) 

Post-exposure prophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin and initiation 

of hepatitis B vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection 

HCV at 3% to 10% (Hepatitis C) 

Currently no vaccines or cures for HCV and neither immunoglobulin nor 

antiviral therapy is recommended as post-exposure prophylaxis 

Of those infected with HCV, 85% develop an infection, 70% of whom 

develop liver disease which often leads to cirrhosis and liver transplants 

Culver, J. (1997). "Preventing transmission of blood-borne pathogens: a compelling argument for effective 

device-selection strategies." Am J Infect Control 25(5): 430-3.

FREQUENCY VS INCIDENCE 

SCALPELS VS NEEDLESTICK 

 

A study conducted by Eisenstein and Smith showed the 

incidence rates (per 100,000 devices) of puncture 

wounds by type of device: 

• Scalpel blades: 662 

• Disposable syringes and loose needles: 3.2 

Eisenstein, H. C. and D. A. Smith (1992). "Epidemiology of reported sharps injuries in a tertiary care 

hospital." J Hosp Infect 20(4): 271-80.\

HOW MANY SCALPEL INJURIES ARE 

PREVENTABLE 

 

Up to 50% of injuries are preventable 

Circumstances Associated with Scalpel Blade Injuries 

137 

Adapted from Fuentes et al “Scalpel Safety”: Modeling the effectiveness of different safety devices‟ ability to reduce scalpel 

blade injuries. The International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine 2008; 20(1-2):83-89.

REGULATORY & LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

OSHA BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS GUIDELINES 

In 1991, OSHA issued the Bloodborne Pathogens 

Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) to protect workers from 

this risk. 

“Must” requirements 

Needs to select safer devices 

Needs to involve employees in identifying and 

choosing devices 

Needs to maintain a log of injuries 

Citations


OSHA UPDATES - 2005 

OSHA interprets Bloodborne Pathogen Guidelines 

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(1)(iv)(B) in 2005. 

 

"... that no one medical device is appropriate for use in all circumstances and 

that it is important to safeguard both patients and employees during medical 

and surgical procedures. If the use of a particular engineering control, in this 

case a safety scalpel, compromises patient safety, its use would not be 

considered feasible. The employer, therefore, must determine what engineering 

and work practice controls effectively minimize hazards without unduly 

interfering with medical procedures. The standard also recognizes that market 

availability is another limiting factor in implementing the use of engineering 

controls and must be considered in both your choice of an engineering control 

and our enforcement of their use [29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(1)(iv)(B)]. However, 

please be aware, exposures have been determined and where engineering 

controls are commercially available and feasible, they must be used." 

 

“The use of a single-handed scalpel blade remover meets these 

criteria”


OSHA UPDATES - 2008 

In 2008, OSHA clarifies further on this subject: 

• "... using fingers to remove a used scalpel blade does not meet the requirements of 

the standard." 

• "Some facilities use a two-handed procedure with hemostat as a mechanical device to 

remove scalpel blades... Hemostats have been used as a measure which was 

preferable to using fingers to remove a used scalpel blade. Employers are expected 

to consider and use safer and more effective measures when feasible." 

• "... suggestion that the BBP (bloodborne pathogen) standard be changed to require 

that if a mechanical device is utilized, it must be a 'one-handed use of a mechanicaldevice' 

is a very good recommendation and one that would improve worker safety."


OSHA UPDATES - SUMMARY 

Now equivalent to the Australian and New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS 3825:1998)


SPECIAL RISK IN PRIVATE PRACTICE 

Risk of doctor to patient transmission can end a 

career instantly 

CDC quote of the dentist in FL 

MS notes, Uni of Virginia and CDC in Atlanta 

Newspaper article from QLD on the dentist


 

COMMON LAW 

In addition to any legislative requirements, owners and employers 

are also required by common law principles to ensure that they 

are not negligent in connection with the use of needles and other 

sharps in a facility. 

 

 

The common law (essentially the precedents established by the 

courts over the centuries) requires that an owner or employer 

owes a duty of care to an employee to provide a safe working 

environment; the standard of care has been determined to 

dictate that an owner or employer must demonstrate a 

reasonable standard of safety having regard for other owners or 

employers in similar circumstances. 

The failure to meet the standard can give rise to a claim for 

damages arising from the negligent conduct of the owner or 

employer. 

J. Scott Weese and Douglas C. Jack (2008) "Needlestick injuries in veterinary medicine" Can Vet J. 2008 

August; 49(8): 780–784. URL: www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgiartid=2465782


 

WHY DO YOU HAVE COMPLIANCE PROBLEMS 

SURGEONS MOSTLY HATE SAFETY SCALPELS 

‘Why surgeons are refusing to adopt safety scalpels’. 

From Outpatient Surgery Magazine (Dec 2007) 

Surgeons resist safety scalpel for the reasons listed below: 

• They are too light 

• Too cumbersome to activate 

• More slippery than textured metal 

One orthopaedic surgeon stated that the safety sheath prevents him 

from cutting deeply enough, the scalpel does not fit into his hand like 

he’s used to and he was worried that he would cut himself trying to 

activate the device. “I don’t see any benefit to safety scalpels. If it was to 

my or my patient’s advantage to use a safety scalpel, I would do it 

without hesitation. But having something bulky between you and the end 

of the blade that can hang on tissue and doesn’t let you control the knife 

the way you want to, it interferes with the operation. 

 

98% of surgeons surveyed in 30 hospitals from USA and Australia 

dislike safety scalpels and prefer traditional handles


WHY DO YOU HAVE COMPLIANCE PROBLEMS 

SAFETY SCALPELS DANGEROUS 

 

EPINet (Exposure Prevention Information Network) data published 

in 2003 by Perry et al.3 In Fig. 1 of their article noted in the year 

2000-2001, 91 injuries caused by reusable scalpels and 42 

injuries caused by disposable scalpels (described elsewhere in 

the text as safety scalpels). This was incorrectly interpreted as 

evidence to support use of safety scalpels. 

 

However, according to Dr. Sheila Dunn, president and CEO of the 

consulting firm Quality America (personal communication) in 

2000-2001 90% of scalpels in use in America were reusable 

handles and only 10% were safety scalpels. 

“Relative incidence of injuries four times higher for 

safety scalpels than for reusable scalpel handles.” 

Sinnott M, Wall D, „„SCALPEL SAFETY‟‟: How safe (or dangerous) are safety scalpels, Int J Surg (2007), 

doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2007.01.010

NOW YOU HAVE A CHOICE 

Order Number AJ150


COMPLIANCE MADE EASY 

PASSIVE SAFETY 

 

Passive Safety is automatic safety 

E.g. spring loaded safety syringe 

Or single-handed blade remover 

• Active Safety requires user to do 

something 

– E.g. sheath style safety syringe 

– Or safety scalpel 

• CDC studies show active safety devices were not 

activated in up to 90% of cases – failing to 

protect the staff using them 

Passive Safety = Superior Safety 

Active Safety = Inferior Safety


HOSPITAL ACCREDITATION MADE EASY 

Joint Commission Article (March 2009) 

 

“I believe that the traditional scalpel handle will remain the first choice of the 

surgeon and that to ensure staff safety, a single-handed scalpel blade 

remover and hands-free passing technique will become the norm in all 

operating suites in the next five years,”…


BALANCING BUDGETS 

Without ignoring staff safety

COST SAVINGS 

1 BladeFlask + scalpel blades is cheaper than 100 safety scalpels 

1 safety scalpel ranges from 

$1.50 - $3.70 each (Avg $2.60) 

1 BladeFlask costs $25 (removes 100 

blades, cost per blade removal $0.25) 

Cost per scalpel blade $0.10 (on avg) 

1 BladeFlask at $25 + 100 scalpel blades at $10 = $35 

is much better value than 

100 safety scalpels ($2.60 x 100) = $260 

You save $225 (on average) with every BladeFlask you buy 

and you are up to 5 times SAFER 

and at least 98% of surgeons will be kept happy

MAKING COMPLIANCE 

A PRACTICAL REALITY

FEATURES AND BENEFITS 

 

 

 

Small & compact – saves space! 

Single-handed Activation 

Compliant with Regulatory requirements 

Compatible with blades from all commonly 

used reusable handles 

Built in counter with shut-off mechanism 

Removes blades in a „Click‟ 

Audible „Click‟ sound signifies that blade has been captured.


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

The Qlicksmart BladeFlask has been tested and is suitable for use with blades* using the commonly 

used handles. 

Compatible Handles: 

All commonly used handles: #3, #3L, #4, #4L, #5, #7, #9, Lawton Long Handle** 

Compatible Blade sizes: 

All commonly used blades: #10, #10A, #11, #12, #13, etc. up to and including #25A, #27 and 

#36 

Other brands of handles are constantly being tested. Qlicksmart would be happy to test any scalpel 

handles you use - for more information please contact Mopec. 

Incompatible blades & handles 

Qlicksmart BladeFlask can NOT be used with the following handles: 

Beaver handle 

Disposable handles 

Baron handle 

* Qlicksmart BladeFlask’s functionality is limited by the length of blade. The maximum 

blade length tested is #36. 

** Some brands of handles may not work well with the Qlicksmart BladeFlask due to the 

shape and slope of the handle tang.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE 

Order Number AJ150


You now have a choice 

PREVENTION WHEN THERE IS NO CURE


Why do we need 

Scalpel Blade Removers 

98% of surgeons prefer steel handles 

>40% of cut to nurses / 3 months off work 

Minimum $5,000 worth of blood tests 

Or years of interferon and anti-retroviral 

US$10 million lawsuit


Order Today! 

21750 Coolidge Highway 

Oak Park MI 48237 (USA) 

www.mopec.com 

800-362-8491

your real life risks when using scalpel blades everyday - Mopec

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