Special care should be taken during biological procedures to prevent injuries occurring while handling sharps such as needles, scalpels and stitch cutters. Accidents resulting from the handling and disposing of sharps during such procedures potentially involve a high risk of exposure to blood-borne infections such as Hepatitis B & C, or Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

See also Communicable Diseases.

In order to minimise the risk of injury associated with the handling of sharps it is essential that

• safe work practices are adopted (ie universal precautions), including providing approved receptacles for disposal at the point of use
• immunisation, information and training is provided to staff and students working in high risk areas.

All needlestick and other sharps injuries must be immediately reported to the supervisor of the work area and the Risk Management Unit using an Injury/Illness report form.

Supervisors have a responsibility to ensure that:

• the appropriate medical intervention is provided, and
• action is taken to prevent the accident from happening again

References
Australian National Council on AIDS

Bulletin No16 Management of Exposure to Blood/Body Fluids Contaminated with Blood, Including Needlestick & Sharps Injuries, with a Potential for HIV or Other Bloodborne Infections . Canberra 1993

Infection Control in the Health Care Setting - Guidelines for the Prevention of Transmission of Infectious Diseases, Australian National Council on Aids and National Health and Medical Research Council Guidelines . AGPS 1996

National Code of Practice for Health Care Workers and Other People At Risk of the Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B in the Workplace [NOHSC:2010(1993)] AGPS Canberra1993