What is the Risk? The main risk from a needle-stick injury is exposure to blood-borne viruses (BBV) such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. Whilst there is a vaccine available for Hepatitis B there is no vaccine for other blood-borne viruses.
Who is at Risk? Those most at risk are people within the healthcare sector; however the risk is also prevalent across other industries. These include:
Police Customs & exercises Social work Prison service waste disposal / management Body piercing / body art
Risk from blood-borne viruses if a person comes into contact with infected blood or body fluids. There are many ways that someone may come into contact with infected blood or body fluids including through a needle-stick injury. This occurs when in punctured or scratched by a needle or sharp device.
Safety Precautions
There are several simple yet effective ways to protect against needle-stick injuries:
- Wash hands immediately after contact with blood or body fluids
- Wash hands after each patient
- Where appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) e.g. disposable gloves for a health professional working with blood or body fluids or puncture resistant gloves such as TurtleSkin Gloves if dealing with waste collection on conducting person searches.
- Disposable aprons should be worn if there is a risk splashing of blood or body fluid
- Protective eyewear if there is potential for the blood or body fluid to splash in the face
- All cuts or open wounds should be covered to create a barrier against exposure to infected blood or body fluids
- Immediately dispose of used needles into a secure puncture-proofsharps bin
It is possible to prevent needle-stick injuries occurring by taking the necessary precautions. It is always best to take a cautions approach when come into contact with blood / body fluids or dealing with used needles.
In situations where an employees is likely to be exposed to blood / body fluids or used needles then the employer is responsible for ensuring that employees are provided with the appropriate equipment to protect against needle-stick injuries.
