Safety briefing - preventing needlestick injuries

This briefing provides essential key points and control measures needed to reduce the risks associated with the use of sharps.

What’s covered?

The aim of this Safety Briefing - Preventing Needlestick Injuries is to remind well-trained workers of the hazards associated with sharps and the precautions they are expected to apply.

Reasons for concern

Needlestick injuries may occur when employees dispose of needles, collect and dispose of materials containing needles during their daily work, or handle rubbish or dirty linens where needles have been inappropriately discarded.

Control measures

Control measures include wearing protective clothing and using appropriate containers to dispose of sharps.

Key points

Attendees must take note of the following key points:

• “Failure to have the correct personal protective equipment may prevent following prescribed safe systems of work.
• Failure to have correct PPE may increase exposure to hazards from contact with blood or bodily fluids etc.
• Failure to have appropriate first aid equipment etc. will make treating an injury almost impossible.
• All contacts with needlesticks should be reported immediately to the line manager.
• Needles should only be stored in approved containers and disposed of accordingly.”