Sharps injuries - Resources

This page provides links to sources of guidance, research, and information on management of sharps in health and social care sector.

HSE publications

Blood-borne viruses in the workplace - Guidance for employers and employees (HSE leaflet INDG342)
Biological agents: Managing the risks in laboratories and healthcare premises (Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens)
Safety in Health Services Laboratories: Safe working and prevention of infection in clinical laboratories (HSC Health Services Advisory Committee)

HSE Research

An evaluation of the efficacy of safer sharps devices: Systematic review. Sharps-related injuries carry the risk of serious blood borne infection. A systematic review was undertaken to consider the evidence related to safer sharps devices and their impact on needlestick injury reduction within the healthcare sector.

Related HSE websites

Infections at work
This website provides general guidance for ill health caused by exposure to micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses (commonly know as pathogens, bugs and germs) during work activities.

Non HSE guidance

European Biosafety Network – Toolkit for implementation of European Directive on Prevention from Sharps Injuries
Guidance for Clinical Health Care Workers: Protection Against Infection with Blood-borne Viruses; Recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS and the Advisory Group on Hepatitis. (Department of Health)
The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. (Department of Health)
NHS Employers Manual: The management of health, safety and welfare issues for NHS staff, Chapter 19. Needlestick Management (NHS Employers)
Health Protection Agency: Eye of the Needle: United Kingdom Surveillance of Significant Occupational Exposures to Blood borne Viruses in Healthcare Workers. November 2008 (HPA)
In November 2008 the HPA released the bi-annual report 'Eye of the Needle', publishing data collated across 150 reporting centres on significant occupational exposure to BBVs amongst HCWs. The study reported that needle-stick injuries were the most commonly reported type of significant exposure, with 63% of those injuries caused by hollow-bore needles. 45% of these occurred amongst nursing professionals and 37% amongst medical professionals. A much lower incidence was identified amongst professions allied to medicine and ancillary staff. Only 2% of the exposures occurred in ancillary staff, but most were sustained from inappropriately discarded needles in rubbish bags.
Needlestick Injuries: Sharpen Your Awareness: Report of the Short Life working Group on needlestick injuries in the NHS Scotland. May 2001 (NHS Scotland)
Needlestick injury in 2008 - Results from a survey of RCN members (Royal College of Nursing)
Royal College of Nursing - Sharps safety
Guidance on the law on sharps injuries, including the European Directive and its underlying principles, as well as its requirements on health care providers

External websites

HSE is not responsible for and cannot guarantee the accuracy of information on sites that it does not manage; a link does not mean HSE endorses the linked site.

NHS Employers
NHS Employers provide advice on issues ranging from risk assessment and risk management, through needlesticks and waste management, to the safe disposal of infected cadavers and stress.
Health Protection Agency (HPA)
The HPA’s Bloodborne Viruses website provides information and guidance for the occupational setting on the three most recognised blood-borne viruses in the UK, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.
Safer Needle Network
The Safer Needles Network is aimed at those concerned with reducing needlestick injuries and bloodborne viruses. The membership of the Network is drawn from the organisations that represent healthcare workers, such as trade unions and professional organisations, individual clinicians with expertise and manufacturers of the different technologies. HSE is a member of the network.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
Unison