Guide to help prevent sharps injuries in healthcare environments. initialmedical.co.uk initialmedical.ie

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1 Guide to help prevent sharps injuries in healthcare environments initialmedical.co.uk initialmedical.ie

2 CONTENTS 1 Introduction to sharps injuries 2 Sharps and Health & Safety Legislation 3 Infection risks from sharps injuries 4 Key tips to make sure you comply with the Safer Sharps Regulations 5 What to do if a sharps injury occurs Initial Medical are the experts in healthcare waste management

3 Introduction to sharps injuries Sharps injuries are a well-known risk in the health and social care sector. Sharps contaminated with an infected patient s blood can transmit more than 20 diseases, including hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Sharps injuries can cause worry and stress to the many thousands who receive them. This short guide is designed to help prevent an incident resulting in a needle-stick or other sharps incident or Injury. What are sharps? Needles Scissors Scalpels Glass Medical instruments What is a sharps injury? A sharps injury is an incident, which causes a needle, blade or other medical instruments to penetrate the skin. This is sometimes called a percutaneous injury. Who is at risk? Workers and others in health and social care are at risk. This includes those who directly handle sharps but also includes workers who may inadvertently be put at risk when sharps are not stored or disposed of correctly. There is a higher risk of infection from a sharps injury involving hollow-bore needles. Higher risk procedures include intra-vascular cannulation, venepuncture and injections and use of IV cannulae, winged steel-butterfly-needles, needles and syringes and phlebotomy needles.

4 Sharps and health & safety legislation In 2010, European Directive EU 2010/32 was published on sharps injuries with the aim of creating the safest possible working environment by preventing injuries to workers caused by all medical sharps. National legislation came into force on 11th May In the UK - The Health & Safety (Sharps Instruments In Healthcare) Regulations 2013 & in Ireland - (Prevention of Sharps Injuries in the Healthcare Sector) Regulations, 2013 Aims of the legislation Prevention of injuries caused by all medical sharps Protect workers at risk Achieve the safest possible working environment Set up an integrated approach establishing policies in risk assessments, risk prevention, training, information, awareness raising & monitoring Put in place response & follow up procedures The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced Health Services Information Sheet 7 - Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 ( gov.uk/pubns/hsis7.htm) to provide guidance on how to comply with the Regulations. Other relevant legislation includes; Health & Safety at work Act 1974 (HASAW) The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 The Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)

5 Infection risks from sharps injuries Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a serious viral infection and is spread by contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids. The virus can survive for several days on dressings, in syringe needles or other sharps. Hepatitis B as a virus is difficult to treat once contracted and an infected person is at great risk of becoming a carrier. The virus can lead to liver disease or even death. Protection can be gained from a course of injections. Protection from Hepatitis B virus requires having three injections over six months followed by a blood test and possibly another booster dose. Protection lasts for approximately five years. Transmission Rates from Sharps Injuries: 1:3 Hep B 1:30 Hep C 1:300 HIV Hepatitis C Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C is a serious viral infection and is spread by contact with the blood and other, body fluids. Most people who have recently contracted hepatitis C will experience no symptoms or symptoms that can be mistaken for another condition such as flu-like symptoms, extreme tiredness, jaundice and depression. However, in the long term chronic cases, the virus can lead to liver disease or even death. Unlike other forms of hepatitis, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. HIV and AIDS Although AIDS is a very serious disease the infection is not easily transferable from contaminated material to people, however there is a risk of transmission from infected blood entering the body. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, which is believed to be caused by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). There is not, at present, any cure or preventative vaccine against AIDS although much work is being done.

6 Key tips to make sure you comply with the Safer Sharps Regulations 1. Implement safe procedures for using and disposing of sharp medical instruments and contaminated waste 2. Eliminate the unnecessary use of sharps by implementing changes in practice and through providing medical devices incorporating safety-engineered protection mechanisms 3. Ban the practice of recapping 4. Segregate your waste correctly, making sure you dispose of your sharps in a specialist sharps container Dispose of your sharps safely in a sharps container 5. Assemble your sharps container correctly and make sure you sign and date it before use 6. Provide sharps disposal equipment as close as possible to the assessed areas where sharps are being used or found. Where possible use a sharps bracket so that the container is secure and always in the right location 7. Ensure the correct size and type of container is being used for the application 8. Use personal protective equipment 9. Train your practice staff on the correct use of sharps devices and the disposal of sharps waste 10. Report all sharps injuries immediately and follow the what to do if a needle-stick injury occurs guide overleaf

7 What to do if a sharps injury occurs Step 1 - Encourage Bleeding from the wound, ideally holding it under running water. Wash the area of entry. If soap and water are unavailable use a sterilised wipe from a First Aid Kit Step 2 - Dry Wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing Don t... Suck the wound Scrub the wound when washing Step 3 - Seek Urgent Medical Advice Ideally attend your nearest casualty department, taking the needle with you. Step 4 - Report your injury to your employer and ensure all details of the injury are reported in your accident reporting book

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