Sharps Awareness

There is a common misconception that sharps injuries are only of concern to medical and care staff. However, it is not uncommon for people in other industries such as waste disposal to encounter used sharps. In this course we'll start by looking at some statistics relating to discarded needles, then define 'sharps' and look at the different types that can be found in 'sharps litter', ranging from needles, syringes and scalpel blades to broken glass, knives, scissors and nails.

The course covers the primary and secondary risks from sharps. It looks at the responsibilities of employers and how they must use risk assessment to ensure workers safety as much as possible and then takes a detailed look at Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and Tetanus. There is a section on the Chain of Infection, helping you to understand how an infection gets passed on, and what steps can be taken to break the chain and stop the process.

There’s always a probability of picking up an infection from a needlestick injury, and the course addresses the factors that can affect this. It's important to always handle discarded sharps safely so the course will take you through the equipment you need, including litter pickers, forceps, disinfectant sprays and gloves, along with the correct techniques you should employ to avoid injury.

This subject will be further expanded on by detailing the correct sharps handling procedures, including how to dispose of discarded sharps safely, how to remove disposable gloves to minimise cross-contamination, and correct hand washing procedures. Finally, it'll cover how to report discarded sharps and the correct procedures to follow if you're unlucky enough to receive a sharps injury.