Occupational hazards of operating: opportunities for improvement.

The emergence of hepatitis C virus compels us to refocus on protecting ourselves, our coworkers, and our families from potential illness, disability, or death. As blood-borne pathogens continue to evolve and mutate, the best option available is to prevent exposure. Surgeons have the opportunity to prevent the majority of exposures by utilizing currently available technology and knowledge. Surgeons should see, use, and evaluate a variety of safety-engineered devices, because their feedback can lead to improvements in technology. Education, communication, and access to safer technology will motivate surgeons to adopt safer behavior patterns. Provided with information and tools, we can change through self-motivation.