Proposal for Organizational Change - Essay Example

It has been estimated that over 5.5 million healthcare service provider are exposed to the risk of contacting blood borne pathogens. Most of these blood borne pathogens cause serious health diseases and therefore reducing this health risk is very critical measure in medical service industry. Examples of blood borne pathogens include; Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Both Hepatitis B and C viruses among others plus other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). The Needle Stick Safety and Prevention Act was enacted due to increased cases of needle stick injuries that were becoming a serious health hazard.

It was establish in 2000 by congress and it mandated the maintenance of sharps injury log and participation of all healthcare service providers in evaluation and making the choice of devices to be used. In response to the Needle stick Safety act establishment, OSHA in 2001 revised the Blood Borne pathogens Standard in order to comply with the act. Another campaign was initiated by National alliance for Primary Prevention of Sharps Injuries (NAPPSI) to protect medical providers and medical interns from accidental injuries that occurred in the course of their duty.

The campaign focused on educating workers and interns on the prevention of all avoidable risks from sharp objects at work. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established in 1970 by congress in the U.S.'s department of labor. The mission of this body was to protect employees from workplace injuries, illness or deaths (Rabinowitz, 2002). This regulatory body uses rules enforceable by the law and these rules are referred to as standards.The Revised OSHA's Blood Borne StandardResearch has shown that many healthcare service providers who have been exposed to blood borne pathogens have been infected with deadly and other dangerous viruses and disease conditions.

Contraction of the diseases is usually through needle stick injuries i.e. wounds that are caused needles if they accidentally puncture the skin (Carter 2007). The most serious problems are the infections from the deadly viruses namely Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses. Conformity with the new Blood borne standard has notably decreased risk of medical service providers to contract blood borne diseases at work. Still the problem of health workers contracting blood borne diseased from sharp tools accidents continues to be a serious problem.

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that over 380 000 injuries were recorded, Most them being contaminated. Since the establishment of the Blood borne Pathogens Standard, most concerned parties have responded positively and have taken steps towards reducing health hazards (Carter 2007). One of the requirements was an OSHA's request for Information on engineering and work performance controls that would be used to alleviate risk of exposure (Mason et al, 2002). Recommendations were made available to health care providers, organizations representing medical care workers, researchers, education institutions, expert and industry associations, and medical devices manufacturers.

The use of safer medical apparatus such as non invasive systems and sharp instruments with modified protectors to