“Start Cart” Improves Safety of IV Catheter Placement

A small mobile cart facilitates catheter insertion and needle disposal according to United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA; Washington DC, USA) standards.

The Harloff “Start Cart” is designed to reduce the risk of accidental needle sticks to patients and staff, while improving the efficiency of the intravenous (IV) or epidural procedure. Among the benefits of using the cart is that clinicians will no longer have to travel back and forth to gather needed equipment from a distant cart; and they will no longer have to use the patient’s bed, stretcher, or surgical operating room table as a work surface. As a result, there is no danger of exposed needles being left on top of the patient’s bed, potentially causing injury to the patient himself, doctor, nurse, medical technician, or housekeeper.


The system is comprised of dual lipped working surfaces with clear plastic cover overlays. One of the surfaces is attached to an articulating arm, which allows working in either standing or sitting positions. The cart cabinet and drawers are made of painted steel, available in 13 colors, with full extension drawer slides and a keyless drawer retention lock. An adjustable push handle and premium 12.5 cm casters make it easy to roll around the operating room (OR) and patient rooms; the cart is also ballasted for stability thanks to a lower center of gravity. Additional features include compact storage for point of use supplies needed to start catheters, and a 12-liter sharps and waste container for easy disposal. The “Start Cart” is a product of Harloff (Colorado Springs, CO, USA).

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