Introduction
In order to eliminate percutaneous needlestick injuries (NSIs) you need to remove needles or engineer out the risk. NSIs come at a cost, both to the organisation for post exposure management and personal cost to the healthcare worker (HCW).
In 2008, prompted by the increasing frequency of HCWs reporting percutaneous injuries, I embarked on a major review of these incidents. This data review prompted me to become a "change agent" with NSI elimination being my primary goal.
With Executive support I facilitated the successful introduction of a range of safety engineered devices (SEDs) leading to a downward trend in reported NSIs. This presentation demonstrates what worked and will highlight what SEDs are currently available.

Objectives
To eliminate the occurrence of NSIs by replacing selected non safety devices with SEDs and to embed a sharps safety culture within the organisation.

Method
1. I reviewed NSI data reported from 2005 and 2008.
2. Devices targeted for replacement were those most frequently involved in NSIs or those that posed the highest risk of blood-borne virus (BBV) transmission.
3. Medical literature review and product evaluation determined the most acceptable, clinically suitable and preferred SEDs available.
4. Selected non safety sharps devices were replaced with SEDs.
5. A comprehensive sharps safety education campaign was implemented to engage staff in the process of changing to safer work practices.

Outcome
All but one of our selected SEDs are now implemented. Ongoing data reviews indicate that the implemented strategies and technologies have led to a downward trend in reported NSIs. Most importantly less staff have experienced NSIs that pose significant risk of BBV transmission.