Neutral Zones Are Important for Sharps Safety

During invasive procedures, a neutral zone is a specified area for perioperative team members to place sharp instruments.1 Neutral zones reduce the risk of percutaneous injuries by eliminating the passing of sharps in a hand-to-hand manner.2 One systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies showed that 22.2% of percutaneous injuries occur when passing sharps.3 Another study demonstrated that hands-free techniques, including the use of a neutral zone, lower the risk of percutaneous injuries, glove tears, and contamination.4 Before the procedure, team members should establish the neutral zone and clarify the instrument-passing protocol.2 Neutral zones should be sturdy and large enough to accommodate the instruments.2 Figure 1. Options for an established neutral zone.1 None reported.