Asia/Asia Pacific - Policy and Legislation

to protect healthcare workers from occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens

Regional summary: No country in the Asia/Asia Pacific region currently has a policy or law mandating the use of safety-engineered needles or sharp devices. In Australia, three states -- New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria -- have policy guidelines or directives regarding sharps injuries and needlestick prevention.

The Center is conducting a country-by-country search for relevant occupational safety and health policies or guidelines regarding the protection of healthcare workers from occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens.

If you are aware of pertinent policies or guidelines related to healthcare worker safety or occupational exposure prevention in any countries in this region, please send information here .

- Policy and guidelines, by country:

• Australia:
  • New South Wales Department of Health
    • Sharps Injuries - Prevention in the NSW Public Health System
    • HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C - Management of Health Care Workers Potentially Exposed
      
      
  • Queensland Department of Health
    • Occupational Exposures to Blood and Body Fluids - Recommended Practices for Preventing Hollow-bore Needlestick Injuries
    • Hollow-bore Needle Safety Program
      
      
  • Victoria WorkSafe: Guidance Note - Needlestick Injuries Can Be Prevented
    
    
• Hong Kong/PRC:
  • Recommendations on the Management and Postexposure Prophylaxis of Needlestick Injury or Mucosal Contact to HBV, HCV and HIV (2007)
    
    
• Japan:
  The following documents were published in February 2010 by a committee charged with developing guidelines for prevention of occupational diseases and injuries in healthcare facilities, with funding from a government employees' accident compensation group.
  
• • Guidelines for preventing occupational diseases and injuries at health care settings: Preventing needlestick and sharps injury version:
    http://www.chikousai.jp/boushi/boushi_H21/H21_hospital_manual.pdf
    
    
  • Training handbook for preventing occupational diseases and injuries in health care settings: Preventing needlestick and sharps injury version:
    http://www.chikousai.jp/boushi/boushi_H21/H21_hospital_handbook.pdf