Needlestick or sharps injuries


The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2012 implemented the requirements of a European Directive on the prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector. The regulations require employers in the healthcare sector to make arrangements for the safe use and disposal of medical sharps, provide information and training to employees, and record, investigate and take action following a sharps injury. Healthcare workers also have a duty to promptly report any sharps injury to their employer.


The HSE has produced an information sheet for healthcare employers and employees, available from its website (www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsis7.pdf). This sets out the legal obligations under the new regulations, explains where the regulations apply and provides practical advice on:


• the safe use and disposal of sharps;


• training requirements; and


• procedures for responding to a sharps injury.


Public services union UNISON recently welcomed an HSE report highlighting the work that still remains to be done by NHS trusts in enforcing the legislation and protecting staff from injury. The report showed that there were health and safety breaches in 90% of organisations visited; 83% failed to fully comply with the sharps regulations; and the HSE issued improvement notices to 45% of organisations.

More information about the initiative and the report can be found on the HSE website (www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/needlesticks/prevention-management-sharps-injuries.pdf).