Safe Disposal of Sharps

Safe Disposal of Sharps

EU Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries in the health care sector. Does it mean anything to you?

As set out in the Health and Safety Executive the aims of the Directive are as follows:

• To achieve the safest possible working environment
• To prevent workers’ injuries caused by all medical sharps
• To protect workers at risk
• To set up an integrated approach establishing policies in risk assessment, risk prevention, training, information, awareness raising and monitoring
• To put in place response and follow up procedures.

So how does the EU Directive affect me? 

The EU Directive is aimed at employers, requiring them to make appropriate provisions for staff in respect of the risk of sharps injuries. It is the employer’s duty to ensure the health and safety of workers. The directive reinforces the need for appropriate levels of training and equipment. A risk assessment must be carried out and where there is a risk of exposure, employers need to identify how exposure can be eliminated.  Where exposure cannot be eliminated exposure should be prevented through:

• Providing sharps disposal equipment as close as possible to where sharps are being used
• Banning the practice of re-sheathing
• Implementing safe procedures for using and disposing of sharp medical instruments and contaminated waste
• Eliminating the unnecessary use of sharps

Employers should be aware of their legal duties under existing legislation and the new directive, which emphasise carrying out risk assessments on the prevention of sharps injuries. There should be a strategic level commitment to reducing sharps injuries.

Health and safety law is criminal law, and companies can be subject to enforcement action if they fail to comply with the legal requirements relating to the prevention of sharps injuries.

According to www.needlestickforum.net 100,000 needle-stick injuries occur each year in the UK¹.

What do I need to know?

• Only one roller/stamp to be used per client.
• Rollers should be disposed of immediately after use.
• Be careful when working on your clients so as not to catch yourself with the needle.
• Your sharps box must be close to hand and ideally wall mounted.
• Sharps boxes must be disposed of as soon as they are three quarters the way full and closed with the safety seal.
• Have a needle prick procedure policy to hand in case of injury to remind you of what to do.