Needles & Sharps Training
This Needles and Sharps training course teaches those working with needles and sharps how to use and dispose of them safely to reduce the likelihood of an injury. It outlines the risks associated with sharps use, as well as what practices should be avoided and the actions that should be taken in the event of an accident.
This course outlines the best practice guidelines for the safe use and disposal of sharps equipment and details key sharps-related legislation to ensure both employers and employees are aware of their legal responsibilities regarding the safe use of sharps.
- Written in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013
- Developed by healthcare professionals
- Accredited by CPD and Assured by RoSPA
- Skills for Health accredited and Skills for Care endorsed training provider
- Online training course and assessment with no time limits
- Full audio voiceover
- Approximate duration: 2 hours
- On completion, certificate is posted next working day
- Downloadable PDF certificate available on completion
Who should take this course?
This Needles and Sharps training course is suitable for anyone working in the healthcare industry in both the private and public sectors. This includes those working in the medical sector and in health and social care, such as nurses, doctors and surgeons.
It is aimed at the use, disposal and management of sharps and needlesticks within the medical sector. This course outlines the legal responsibilities of managers, employers and employees, as well as what actions should be taken to comply with their legal requirements.
However, the course may also be of interest to others handling sharps, including tattooists, veterinary staff, prison officers, etc.
If you work in a clinical environment then you might also be interested in our Infection Control & Prevention Training Course.
Certification
All of our courses are accredited by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to universally accepted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.
On successful completion of the course you will be sent a quality assured certificate through the post the next working day. This can be used to provide evidence for compliance and audit.
This certificate does not have an expiry date. However, based on industry best practice guidelines, the recommended renewal period for this training is 1 year. We will print this recommended renewal date on your certificate.
Skills for Health Quality Mark Digital
High Speed Training was the very first training provider to be awarded the prestigious Skills for Health Quality Mark Digital. Skills for Health is the UK’s Sector Skills Council for Health, responsible for informing national policy, maintaining the Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) and championing the entire UK healthcare workforce.
The Skills for Health Quality Mark Digital demonstrates exceptional, quality assured learning and development. Meaning that our training processes have met rigorous quality assurance assessment and nationally recognised expectations of the UK health sector.
Skills for Care Endorsed Training Provider
We're proud to be officially endorsed by Skills for Care, the strategic body for workforce development in social care in England and a delivery partner for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Skills for Care endorsement is a trusted quality mark only awarded to the best learning and development providers within the social care sector.
Our Commitment to Health and Social Care
High Speed Training has supported thousands of Health and Social Care workers in gaining accredited certificates to help them deliver safe and effective care. We best serve care providers by committing to being at the forefront of sector issues, policy and legislation, ensuring our training is up-to-date, comprehensive and meaningful.
As part of our commitment to Health and Social Care, we have worked hard to build partnerships with authorities and leading bodies, including Care England, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), and the National Care Forum (NCF).
Screenshots (click to view)
If you wish to try this course then register for a demo by clicking the 'interactive demo' button. You will be given the option to purchase and continue with your course at the end of your demo!
Interactive Demo
Course content
| Module | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What are Sharps? | What are sharps, what is a sharps injury, who is at risk of a sharps injury, when do most sharps injuries occur, what are the main risks associated with sharps injuries, what biological agents could employees be exposed to, what risks could these pose to an individual, and facts about needlestick injuries. |
| 2 | Sharps and the Law | Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013, employer and employee responsibilities, what does 'reasonably practicable' mean, other key sharps-related legislation, protecting workers and risk assessments. |
| 3 | Safe Use of Needles and Sharps | When do most sharps injuries occur, best practices for sharps use, medical device markings, hand hygiene, hand hygiene and PPE, practices that increase accidents, nevers of sharps use, reporting a sharps injury, and safer sharps. |
| 4 | Safe Disposal of Sharps | Waste stream segregation, regulatory bodies, implementing waste segregation systems, sharps boxes, recapping a needle, disposing of sharps and disposing of a sharps box. |
Download Course Overview (PDF)
Aims of the course
By the end of this course, you will:
- Understand the risks posed by unsafe practices when using sharps.
- Know who is at risk of sharps exposure.
- Be aware of when workers might encounter sharps.
- Know how to safely handle and dispose of sharps using best practices.
- Understand the legal duties relating to the safe use of sharps.
- Know what actions to take in the event of a sharps-related accident.
Assessment
The online assessment is taken on completion of the training material. You will be asked 12 multiple choice questions with a pass mark of 75%. The answers are marked automatically so you will instantly know whether you have passed. If you don't pass don't worry! You can take the test as many times as you need with no extra charge.
