Are safety engineered devices (SEDs) adequate to prevent sharps injuries?

The advancement of safety engineered devices has assisted in the reduction of needlestick injuries, however recent studies show that SEDs alone are not enough. Many sharps injuries from safety engineered devices are due to non-activation. A recent study conducted in 5 Florida healthcare facilities showed that overall, 42.5% of devices were discarded "sharp". The audit further revealed that only 55.5% of sharps deposited into sharps containers were SEDs and of these, 21.6% were either not activated, or partially activated. A safe sharps container system in addition to the use of SEDs (not in place of) is paramount in protecting staff and patient safety.