Toronto hospital reduces sharps injuries by 80%, eliminates blood collection injuries. A case study: Toronto East General Hospital pioneers healthcare worker safety

Abstract

Needlestick and other sharps injuries are a key Canadian public health issue, affecting 70,000 people per year and costing some dollar 140 million. A safety program at Toronto East General Hospital--focusing on blood collection and patient injection--achieved an 80% reduction in injuries within one year (from 41 in 2003 to eight in 2004), with blood collection injuries eliminated entirely.