Needlestick Injuries

Needlestick Injuries

Needlestick injuries are injuries from needles used in medical procedures (sometimes known as sharps injuries or in the medical profession per-cutaneous injuries). Any person handling a sharp device (suture needles, scalpels, razors, sharp edged or pointed surgical instruments or sharp material that breaches the skin barrier) has a clear mandatory duty to ensure that every precaution is taken to prevent injury to themselves and others. All employers are required under existing health and safety law to ensure the risk of sharps injuries from needles are adequately assessed and that appropriate preventative control measures are in place.

There are a number of physical symptoms that can come from a needlestick injury including tenderness to the puncture area and swelling but the main risk is contamination. If the needle is carrying someone else’s blood, the person who has been injured could be at risk of infection of blood borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). With this transmission risk, needlestick injuries can cause tremendous worry and stress to those who receive them therefore having a severe psychological impact on their lives.

Needlestick injuries are a particular hazard for those who work with hypodermic needles and/or other needle equipment.  These high risk occupations include;

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Surgeons
• Phlebotomists
• Vets
• Dentists

There are other occupations equally at risk although not directly involved in health care;

• Tattoo artists
• Cleaners
• Refuse collectors
• Prison officers

Injuries can occur at any time when needles are used and not disassembled and disposed of properly, lying in rubbish where other workers may encounter them unexpectedly. Injuries can occur if the equipment is defective. Anyone working with needles should be supplied with the correct safety equipment by their employers such as reinforced gloves and tongs. Employers must ensure there are policies in place for risk assessment, risk prevention, training, awareness raising and monitoring. An injury at work because of an employer’s incorrect action or lack of action is likely to have grounds for a compensation claim. 

Contact us today for free, no obligation advice regarding your Needlestick Injury claim – either by calling us free on 0800 122 3130, or by requesting a free call back, whereby one of our team will contact you at a time of your choice, to discuss your situation.

We’re here to help – contact us today.