Health and Safety
Sharps Safety for the Healthcare Industry
Assessment type
Training only (attendance)
Minimum duration
30 Minutes
Course delivery
E-learning
Description
The Sharps Safety for the Healthcare Industry eLearning course provides learners with an understanding of the hazards associated with needles, sharps and other medical devices capable of causing injury within healthcare environments.
The course explores how sharps injuries can occur, the potential risks associated with exposure to blood and bodily fluids and the precautions required when using, handling and disposing of sharps. Learners will consider safer working practices, appropriate disposal arrangements and the actions to take following a sharps injury or exposure incident.
Who Should Attend?
- Healthcare workers.
- Care and support workers who may encounter sharps.
- Nurses and healthcare assistants.
- Clinical and support personnel.
- Employees responsible for handling or disposing of clinical waste.
- Employees working in environments where needles or other sharps may be present.
- Managers and supervisors responsible for healthcare employees.
- Anyone requiring awareness of sharps hazards and safe working practices within healthcare environments.
What You Will Learn
- What is meant by a sharp or sharps injury.
- Common types of sharps encountered within healthcare environments.
- Understanding how sharps injuries can occur.
- Recognising the potential consequences of needlestick and sharps injuries.
- Understanding the risks associated with exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
- Awareness of blood-borne infections associated with sharps exposure.
- Identifying activities where sharps injuries may occur.
- Understanding individual responsibilities when working with or around sharps.
- Applying appropriate infection prevention and control precautions.
- Preparing appropriately before undertaking activities involving sharps.
- Maintaining a safe and organised working area.
- Handling needles and other sharps carefully.
- Avoiding unnecessary handling of used sharps.
- Recognising unsafe practices that can increase the risk of injury.
- Understanding the risks associated with recapping or manipulating used needles.
- Using safety-engineered devices appropriately where provided.
- Following manufacturer instructions and workplace procedures.
- Understanding the importance of appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Disposing of sharps immediately and appropriately after use.
- Using approved sharps containers correctly.
- Avoiding overfilling sharps containers.
- Positioning and handling sharps containers appropriately.
- Recognising damaged, incorrectly assembled or unsuitable sharps containers.
- Understanding safe arrangements for transporting and disposing of sharps waste.
- Knowing what to do if an unattended or incorrectly discarded sharp is discovered.
- Responding appropriately following a needlestick or sharps injury.
- Understanding the importance of immediate first aid following an exposure.
- Reporting sharps injuries and exposure incidents promptly.
- Seeking appropriate medical assessment and follow-up following an exposure.
- Recording incidents in accordance with workplace procedures.
- Reporting unsafe practices, damaged equipment or disposal concerns.
- Following organisational sharps safety and infection control procedures.
- Contributing to the prevention of sharps injuries within healthcare environments.
Course Delivery
This course is delivered as self-directed eLearning through the ELMO learning platform.
Learners can work through the course at their own pace and can move backwards and forwards through the learning content as required. The course does not need to be completed in one sitting, allowing learners to leave and return to their training where necessary.
Interactive activities may be included throughout the course to reinforce key learning points.
Assessment
Knowledge and understanding are checked through online assessment activities. Depending on the course content, these may include multiple-choice questions, matching exercises, drag-and-drop activities and image-based questions.
A minimum score of 70% is required to successfully complete the course.
Certification
Upon successful completion of the course and assessment requirements, learners will receive a UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Accredited Certificate of Training.
This is an awareness-based eLearning course and does not replace workplace-specific risk assessments, infection prevention and control procedures, appropriate equipment or any practical and role-specific training required for employees who use or handle sharps.
Course Duration
The course is self-directed and learners can progress through the content at their own pace. Completion time may therefore vary depending on the individual learner.
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