Which agency prohibits personnel from using their hands when sorting instruments inside a bin?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the agency that provides standards and regulations to ensure workplace safety, including the handling of instruments in sterile processing environments. The use of gloves is emphasized in these settings to minimize the risk of contamination as well as to protect personnel from potential hazards associated with sharp instruments.

By prohibiting the use of hands when sorting instruments, OSHA aims to promote safety practices that safeguard both the workers and the sterility of the instruments. This approach aligns with infection control protocols that are crucial in healthcare settings, where the risk of transmitting pathogens can be significant.

Other agencies, like the CDC and FDA, focus more on broader public health guidelines and medical device regulation rather than specific workplace safety practices. AMI, which relates to specific educational efforts in sterile processing, does not hold the regulatory authority that OSHA does in this context. Therefore, OSHA is the correct agency regarding the prohibition on direct hand contact with instruments during sorting.