1.Government

Our approach is impactful and strategic, as we collaborate closely with governments, policymakers and key industry leaders to identify the relevant legislation and guidelines aimed at improving staff safety.

Collaborating with Governments to Close the Gaps

We do not only advocate for change—we actively review existing regulations, such as:

• Australia Standard AS 3825:2020, “Australian Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Infection in Health Care”
• The National Health and Medical Research Council, May 2021 “Australian Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Infection in Health Care”

Advocating on a Global Scale

In the US, StaffAndPatientSafety.org has made recommendations to the following Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Letters of Interpretation:

• OSHA, Interpretation Letter, February 2023, “Is a single-handed scalpel blade removal device an engineering control under the Bloodborne Pathogens standard?”
• OSHA, Interpretation Letter, November 2008, “OSHA’s position on the use of fingers or a two-handed procedure with a hemostat to remove scalpel blades”.
• OSHA, December 2005, “Use of passing trays and single-handed scalpel blade remover in a surgical setting”.

Across the world, StaffAndPatientSafety.org collaborate with government bodies to adapt relevant guidelines and legislation, and promote one safe culture. This includes:

• Attending the Michigan Senate and House Resolutions to advocate for reformed regulations and legislations for sharps safety resulting in R46 of 2013 and HR11 of 2013.
• Currently advocating in Mexico, as the current Official Mexican Standard-010-SSA2-2010 (Norma Oficial Mexicana) does not protect its health personnel again sharps injuries adequately.

Currently collaborating in Malaysia with the Malaysian Accreditation Organisation for Healthcare Facilities and Services (MSQH) to develop standards and legislation to protect Malaysian healthcare workers.

2. Professional Bodies

We recognise the critical role of professional bodies play in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of healthcare workers. By working alongside professional bodies, we are able to directly influence policies and guidelines that enhance safety protocols.

Partnerships with Key Professional Bodies:

StaffAndPatientSafety.org has established a strong partnership with many professional bodies including the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN), the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), among many.

Beyond Australia, StaffAndPatientSafety.org work with many international professional bodies.

3. Healthcare Facilities

StaffAndPatientSafety.org work with clinical leaders to examine the gaps in current processes within healthcare facilities. As a second step, we liaise with leaders the relevant leaders to understand how these gaps can be addressed.

By demonstrating how devices can be incorporated into everyday practice, we aim to help clinicians apply mandated regulations and guidelines in real-world scenarios, ultimately improving overall staff and patient safety.

We have conducted education days with multiple Australian and international healthcare clinicians and hospitals for the practical implementation of these standards with the use of safety-engineered devices.

4. Clinicians and End-Users

StaffAndPatientSafety.org collaborates with clinicians and end-users to raise awareness about the latest updates to the standards and professional body guidelines. Through interactive education sessions, designed to engage with clinicians and provide the most updated information we aim to ensure an understanding of compliance with updated standards.

StaffAndPatientSafety.org has collaborated with continuing education sources to bring advocacy to clinicians and end-users such as Healthia, Ultimate Podiatrists, and SAPNA.

Education sessions can discuss sharps incidence rates with relevant case studies, latest international regulations and implementation strategies. By receiving regular education about the problem being addressed and training on how to use selected engineered devices, healthcare workers can directly implement change in their facilities.