Review at PCH Infectious Diseases outpatient clinicat 6 weeks and 3 months. Complete the outpatient clinic eReferral. Change the acceptable norm, especially in the Operating Theatre, reiterating to surgical and nursing staff that “sharps injuries DO NOT come with the job” Point of use disposal of sharps is encouraged by ensuring adequate placement of sharps containers in areas where sharps are generated

Gilca V, De Serres G, Boulianne N, Murphy D, De Wals P, Ouakki M, et al. Antibody persistence and the effect of a booster dose given 5, 10 or 15 years after vaccinating preadolescents with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Vaccine. 2013;31:448-51. Sharps" include needles, as well as items such as scalpels, lancets, razor blade, scissors, metal wire, retractors, clamps, pins, staples, cutters, and glass items. Essentially, any object that is able to cut the skin can be considered a "sharp".Who completes your assessment, and who it applies to, will depend on the nature of the work and the complexity of the organisation. For example: Hospital inpatients who are able to self-administer should ideally do so using safety engineered pen needles. Papenburg J, Blais D, Moore D, Al-Hosni M, Laferrie`re C, Tapiero B, et al. Pediatric Injuries From Needles Discarded in the Community: Epidemiology and Risk of Seroconversion. PEDIATRICS. 2008;122(2):e487–e92.

Reviewing the facility’s Exposure Control Plan annually, including the evaluation of SEDs and sharps containers with proven safety Evidence shows that sharps injuries often occur when the used medical sharp is being transported or when disposed of incorrectly. Most sharps injuries to ancillary and support staff usually involve disposable medical sharps that have not been placed in an appropriate sharps container or have been placed in an overfull container. In an operating theatre, where the sharps instrument and activity are very specific, it may be suitable to have a local assessment. Select suitable equipment (for example sharps containers) and provide instructions on how to use safely. Note: safety-engineered pen needles are not routinely used by people with diabetes in their homes so will need to be provided and their use demonstrated by the facility.

Workers and others in health and social care are at risk. This includes those who directly handle sharps but also includes workers who may inadvertently be put at risk when sharps are not stored or disposed of correctly. If the risk cannot be prevented, then the risk of an injury must be adequately controlled. There is a general hierarchy of controls that needs to be considered as follows: Follow up HIV, hepatitis B surface antibody (sAb) and hepatitis B surface antigen (sAg) and hepatitis C serology to be done at PCH laboratory approximately 2 weeks prior to the outpatient clinic appointments.

As mentioned previously, you have a responsibility to provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training and as a minimum, this must cover what procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. For example, measures to be taken in the event of a sharps injury, how to report incidents and what response should be expected from the organisation. Following standard precautions alone will not help you prevent sharps injuries, but following them alongside other control measures, ie using safer sharps devices, safe disposal and training etc. will help reduce the risk. Have clear procedures for response to sharps injury, including speedy access to appropriate prophylaxis treatments

Implementing control measures

Use medical devices that incorporate safety-engineered protection mechanisms that eliminate or reduce the risk of occupational exposure to the lowest feasible extent Your primary duty is to prevent exposure to the risk of a sharps injury. Controlling the risk of exposure what procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. For example, measures to be taken in the event of a sharps injury, how to report incidents and what response should be expected from the organisation?