Sharps Awareness

Many organisations would find this briefing beneficial including housing groups, construction and maintenance companies, utility and waste companies, events management and cleaners.

Sharps injuries are a well-known risk in the health and social care sector but also a big concern in industries that involve potential contact with clinical waste or discarded needles. Sharps contaminated with an infected patient’s blood can transmit more than 20 diseases including hepatitis B, C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, also known as HIV. Due to the risk of transmission sharps injuries can cause worry and stress to the many thousands who receive them.

With the introduction of a European Directive in 2010 which seeks to prevent injuries caused by sharps in healthcare, the importance of the issue has been further highlighted to many organisations.

SSG offer this course over two hours as a briefing.

• Relevant legislation
• Needle stick injuries
• Possible infections from injuries
• Indicators of drug use
• What to do if you find a needle
• What to do if you prick your skin
• Accident reporting

This briefing will provide employees with the necessary guidance to meet the requirements of the Directive.

Following successful completion of training, SSG course attendance certificates will be issued which are valid for three years.