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.
Over 300,000 sharps and needlestick-related injuries occur every year in hospitals alone. Therefore, it's vital everyone handling sharps can do so safely.
- Developed by healthcare professionals
- Accredited by CPD and Approved by RoSPA
- Fully online course and assessment with no time limits
- Full audio voiceover
- Approximate duration: 2 hours
- On completion, certificate is posted the next working day
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
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.
All of our courses are accredited by the CPD Certification Service as conforming
to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.
This course is also approved by RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, as providing quality and content-approved training.
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.
Screenshots (click to view)
Interactive Demo »
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!
Content
The course is divided into four accessible, interactive modules and includes an assessment at the end:
- 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.
- 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
- Safe Use of Needles and Sharps – When do most sharps injuries occur, best practices for sharps use, hand hygiene, hand hygiene and PPE, practices that increase accidents, don'ts of sharps use, reporting a sharps injury and safer sharps.
- 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 Training 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.