Sharps and Needles training course

About Sharps and Needle Training

The Sharps and Needle Training course teaches you how to safely handle and throw away sharp objects like needles. This course explains what sharps are, the dangers they pose, and how they can spread diseases like HIV and Hepatitis.

You will learn about the safety and legal rules, and best ways to prevent getting hurt by sharps.

The course shows you how to use protective gear and how to properly dispose of sharps. It also teaches you what to do if you get hurt by a sharp object, including how to report it and what to do next.

This training is for people who work in healthcare, labs, or anywhere they might find sharps.

After successfully completing this course, you will know how to keep yourself and others safe from sharps injuries. You will learn how to make your workplace safer. You will receive a level 2 certificate in Needlestick Blood Borne Virus Training which is covers the same course content.

From 2012 to 2017, NHS Resolution received 1,833 needlestick injury claims, costing at least £4 million—equivalent to funding 125 band 5 nurses for one year [RCN Report].

Course Information:

• Course Duration: 2-3 hours (half-day training)
• Course Level: Level 2
• Certificate: 1-year certificate
• Max Delegates: 12
• Practical: No
• Course Mode: Face to Face/ Virtual
• Accredited: Yes ✅

Key Numbers

Global Incidence

• Around 3 million healthcare workers get sharps injuries each year worldwide.
• In the United States, about 385,000 sharps injuries happen each year among hospital workers.
• In Europe, over 1 million healthcare workers get needle or sharps injuries every year.

Infection Risks

• Sharps injuries cause about 66,000 cases of Hepatitis B (HBV), 16,000 cases of Hepatitis C (HCV), and up to 5,000 cases of HIV infections among healthcare workers each year worldwide.

How Common Injuries Are in Different Jobs

• A study found that 95.36% of nurses have had a needle stick or sharp injury, and about half of them were hurt more than five times.
• In the UK, 94% of surgeons said they have been hurt by a needlestick injury or have been around a colleague who was.

Reporting and Costs

• At least half of sharps injuries are not reported, according to the United States Center for Disease Control.
• In the UK, needlestick injuries cost the NHS about £500,000 per hospital every year, adding up to about £127 million in total.

Recent UK Data

• Between 2012 and 2022, the NHS received 2,600 claims for needlestick injuries. Out of these, 1,947 were successful claims.

These numbers show how serious sharps and needlestick injuries are in healthcare and why prevention is so important.

Course Content: Sharps and Needlestick

The Sharps and Needlestick training course usually covers:

Safety Basics:

• What sharps and needles are
• Risks of sharps injuries
• Types of diseases from blood (like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C)

Prevention and Handling:

• Safe ways to handle sharps
• Correct disposal methods
• Using personal protective equipment (PPE)
• How to avoid spreading infections

Legal and Regulatory Aspects:

• Important laws and rules; including: Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
• Responsibilities of employers and employees

Response and Reporting:

• First aid for needlestick injuries
• How to report sharps incidents
• Actions to take after exposure

Best Practices:

• How to assess risk
• Infection prevention
• Why regular training is important

The course completed within 2 to 3 hours. This helps our trainer cover the broad topic, answer questions and provide relevant case studies that pertains to your workplace. After completing it, participants get a certificate that is valid for about 1 year.

Course Duration: Needlestick and Sharps

The duration of a Sharps and Needlestick Training course with Caring for Care depends on the format you choose:

• Online Course: You can complete this in 40 minutes, providing a quick and convenient training option.
• Face-to-Face Training: Our in-person sessions typically last between 2 to 3 hours, offering a more interactive and comprehensive learning experience.
• Webinar: Our webinar sessions also last 2 to 3 hours, similar to our face-to-face training, giving you the flexibility to join from anywhere.

All our courses are designed to be focused, engaging, and informative, with content tailored to meet your needs.

🟣Related Course: Infection Prevention and Control Training.

Learning Outcomes

After taking this sharps and needlestick awareness course, you will learn:

1. What sharp things are: You’ll know what counts as a sharp object and be able to spot different kinds in your workplace.
2. Understanding dangers: You’ll learn about the health risks from sharp injuries, like getting sick from HIV or Hepatitis.
3. Knowing the rules: You’ll understand the laws about sharp object safety and what you and your boss need to do.
4. Checking for risks: You’ll learn why it’s important to look for dangers and how to do simple safety checks.
5. Handling sharp things safely: You’ll learn the right ways to use and hold sharp objects to avoid getting hurt.
6. Throwing away sharp things: You’ll know how to get rid of sharp objects safely and how to use special bins for them.
7. What to do if hurt: You’ll learn how to take care of a sharp injury, including first aid and telling someone about it.
8. Staying safe: You’ll learn about ways to prevent injuries, like wearing safety gear and using special tools.
9. Preventing germs: You’ll understand how infections spread and how to help stop them at work.
10. Best ways to work: You’ll learn the best ways to work with sharp objects in different places, like hospitals or other workplaces.

These lessons will help you work safely with sharp objects and lower the chance of getting hurt by needles.

Course Benefits: Why taking this Needlestick training will help

Here are the benefits of taking a Sharps and Needlestick Training course:

• Better Safety Knowledge: You’ll learn about the dangers of sharps and how to handle them safely to avoid injuries.
• Follow the Law: The course helps employers and employees understand the rules about sharps safety.
• Use of PPE: You’ll learn how to wear the right protective equipment to stay safe from sharps injuries.
• Safe Disposal: The course teaches the correct way to dispose of sharps to keep the workplace safe.
• Less Stress and Fewer Sick Days: By reducing sharps injuries, workers feel less stressed, and there are fewer absences due to injuries.
• Grow Professionally: Many courses are CPD-approved, so you can earn points for your career development.
• Learn at Your Own Pace: Online courses let you complete the training when it fits into your schedule.

Who Should Take Sharps and Needlestick Training

List of people who should take the Sharps and Needlestick Training:

1. Healthcare Workers: Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical staff who handle needles, syringes, or sharp objects.
2. Lab Technicians: Individuals working in laboratories where sharps are used, such as those handling blood samples or other medical specimens.
3. Care Workers: Home carers and personal support staff working with patients who may need injections or other sharp medical procedures.
4. Dentists and Dental Assistants: Those handling needles, syringes, and other sharp dental instruments.
5. Pharmacists: Pharmacy staff who may come in contact with needles or sharp objects during the preparation or dispensing of medication.
6. Veterinary Staff: Veterinarians and animal care workers who may use needles or sharp instruments in animal care.
7. Waste Disposal Workers: People handling medical waste, including sharps disposal.
8. Tattoo Artists and Body Piercers: Professionals using needles for body art procedures.
9. Students and Trainees: Medical, nursing, and laboratory students, as well as trainees who will be working with sharps in their future careers.
10. Other Workers in High-Risk Environments: Anyone working in environments where sharps and needles are used, such as clinics, hospitals, or certain industrial settings.

These people should be trained to handle sharps safely and reduce the risk of needlestick injuries.

How does the Sharps Awareness course help in preventing needlestick injuries?

The Sharps Awareness course helps prevent needlestick injuries in several important ways:

• Increases knowledge of risks: The course teaches about the dangers of sharps injuries, including diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
• Teaches safe handling: Participants learn the right way to handle and dispose of sharps safely, lowering the risk of injury.
• Promotes use of protective equipment: The course explains how using personal protective equipment (PPE) can keep you safe when handling sharps.
• Improves risk assessment skills: Learners are taught how to spot and avoid dangers in their work environment.
• Covers proper disposal methods: The course shows the correct ways to dispose of sharps, which helps keep the workplace safe.
• Teaches incident reporting: Participants learn how to report sharps injuries and discarded sharps, ensuring problems are fixed and prevented in the future.
• Addresses cross-contamination: The course explains how to avoid spreading infections, including how to remove gloves properly and wash hands.
• Provides post-exposure guidance: Learners are shown what to do if a sharps injury happens, including first aid and how to report it.

By covering all these areas, the Sharps Awareness course helps workers learn how to reduce the chance of needlestick injuries.

🟣Related Post: Sharps Awareness Course for Staff Onsite

FAQs: Sharps and Needlestick Awareness