MEDICATION
• Information – inoculation injuries should be reported promptly and appropriately, and risks identified following a root cause analysis of each case.
• Raising awareness and monitoring – employers are responsible for ensuring that all staff are aware of the risks associated with occupational exposure from inoculation injuries. Furthermore, health monitoring and vaccination should be provided where available.
The directive requires healthcare providers to undertake all that is reasonably practical to protect healthcare professionals and other staff from harm, with failure to do so seen as a criminal offence. Information must now be provided to employees at risk of sharps injury and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance for employers and employees on complying with the Regulations suggests doing so through safe operating systems, safety guides, posters, and information on internal websites.
The Consequences
of Injuries The consequences of a sharps injury is not to be underestimated. Although an injury may appear insignificant to some, they can result in possible infection, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. The occurrence of an incident can have implications for practices whether or not a disease has been contracted; injuries can also be costly, cause great emotional distress, and affect an employee’s ability to work.
In the UK, for example, the treatment cost of a staff nurse sustaining a sharp injury can range from £118 for a low risk NSI to £1,539 for Hepatitis B NSI. Should a staff nurse need treatment for seroconversion to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV, costs can leap to a whopping £7,298.
The psychological expense of a sharps injury can also be significant. The
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Sharps injuries to healthcare workers are the second most common healthcare injury, following back injuries, and the effects can be both physically and psychologically distressing for the injured party, as well as costly for employers.
stress of receiving a sharps injury is enough to cause excessive anxiety, inability to work, panic attacks, and depression. All of these can result in ‘hidden costs’ for employers as well as the injured member of staff.
It is the responsibility of care organisation managers to reduce the risk of sharps injuries and ensure that staff feel comfortable and able to report an injury. Often incidents are under-reported because reporting is time consuming, staff are busy, reporting might have negative professional repercussions, and the risk of contamination is underestimated.
In the Event of an Injury If a sharp or NSI occurs, the incident must be reported and treatment sought. The Department of Health advises: encourage the wound to bleed, do not suck the wound by mouth, and if exposure has occurred to the eyes or mouth, these areas should be irrigated with water. If contact lenses are being worn then eyes should be irrigated both before and after their removal.
Managers and healthcare workers in all care environments should be aware of the serious consequences of sharps injuries. The results of an injury can be traumatic and costly and every effort must be made to reduce the risk of their occurrence. Failure to abide by the recent regulations can be considered a prosecutable offence and as a result managers should dedicate time to familiarising themselves with the legislation.
Some Tips In its guidance for nursing staff, Essential Practice for Infection Prevention and Control, the Royal College of Nursing, UK, advises:
• Handling of sharps is kept to a minimum.
• Syringes or needles are not dismantled by hand and disposed of as a single unit straight into a sharps container.
• Sharps containers are available as close as possible to the point of use.
• Needles are not re-sheathed or recapped.
• Needles are not broken or bent before use or disposal.
• Arrangements are in place to ensure the safe disposal and transport of sharps used in a community setting.
• All sharps containers conform to UN standard 3291 and British Standard 7320.
• Sharps containers are not filled more than two thirds.
• Sharps boxes are signed on assembly and disposal.
• Sharps bins are stored safely away from the public and out of reach of children.
• Staff report sharps injuries in line with local reporting procedures and policies.
• Staff attend training on the safe use of sharps and safety- engineered devices.
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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