Infection Control Today informa Exhibitions Preventing Sharps injuries and blood borne pathogen exposures in the helathcare laundry

When it comes to protecting hospital personnel from the transmission of infectious diseases, the patient-care delivery worker is often the person thought of first; however, infection preventionists must be aware that the handling of healthcare textiles poses risks to another population of hospital worker. Laundry personnel are responsible for processing hundreds of thousands of pounds of contaminated reusable linens annually and can be at risk for injury if precautions are not taken. Of all the potential hazards in the healthcare laundry environment, sharps injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposures can be some of the most injurious to workers in terms of long-term treatment required