Policy and Legislation

related to healthcare worker safety and occupational exposure prevention in countries worldwide

The International Healthcare Worker Safety Center tracks legislative and policy initiatives related to sharps safety, needlestick prevention, and healthcare workers protection from bloodborne pathogens in countries around the world. Countries that have laws, policies or regulations either currently in force or under consideration (either at the state, provincial, regional or national level) will be included on the regional "Policy and Legislation" pages.

To date, the United States is the only country in the world that has passed national-level legislation specifically mandating the use of safety-engineered sharp devices: the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, passed in November 2000. Canada has laws or regulations in four provinces; Brazil has a regulation, NR 32, that has not yet taken full effect; and Germany has a "technical rule" (TRBA 250) that requires the use of safety-engineered needles for high-risk clinical settings and procedures. The text of the U.S. law can be found here, as well as a timeline and an article tracing the progress of needlestick policy and legislation in the U.S.

If you are aware of relevant laws or policy initiatives for a specific country, please send information here.

- Policy and legislation, by global region:

- International organizations - guidance documents and policy statements