Sharps Injury Policy

Aim

The aim of Cavendish Homecare Professionals is to maintain the highest standards of infection control at all times and ensure that, as far as is reasonably practicable, our clients and staff are protected, where possible, from the spread of infection.

Policy

Cavendish Homecare Professionals will undertake a risk assessment to determine:

1. The potential risks of ‘sharps’ injuries
2. Who may be affected
3. Methods of eliminating risks completely or, where this is not practicable, methods of reducing risks to acceptable levels.

Wherever possible risks will be eliminated by the use of equipment and techniques where there is no risk of ‘sharps’ injuries or waste, for example through the use of safer equipment.
Where ‘sharps’ injury does occur, staff should gently encourage the puncture wound to bleed and then wash the wound under running water. They should not scrub or suck the wound but should cover the wound after cleaning with a clean dressing.
Any sharps injury should be reported immediately to Cavendish Homecare Professionals and an Incident Report should be completed.
Where the sharps incident involves an unused needle or sharps item then no further action need be taken.
Where the sharps incident involves a used needle or sharps item then the person suffering the injury should be assessed by an appropriate health practitioner without delay. Where available this should be through an occupational health service or, where such a service is not available or out of office hours, an A&E department.
All staff should be followed up via the occupational health service on the next working day.
Any non-staff suffering a similar accident should attend A&E and should be followed-up by their own occupational health service or GP as advised.

Management duties

Managers have a duty to:

ensure that all waste, including sharps waste, is disposed of safely and appropriately according to this policy
ensure that appropriate infection control and sharps handling and disposal policies are effectively implemented in the clients’ home, are clearly understood by all members of staff, including temporary and agency staff, and are regularly reviewed and revised in light of the most recent best practice guidelines
monitor carefully any incident reports relating to infection control or clinical waste matters in order to identify any trends or patterns
ensure that staff are provided with appropriate training, equipment and resources such as PPE, waste bags, sharps disposal bins, hand washing equipment and facilities and, where required, alcohol hand gels
be aware that all the time clinical waste is on the property it is their responsibility to ensure its safety and security.

Staff duties

Staff have a duty to:

comply with all infection control policies, procedures and guidelines at all times, including the clinical waste and sharps use and disposal procedures, properly utilising any personal protective equipment provided and carrying out their duties in accordance with their training and good practice
wash their hands regularly after handling waste and sharps waste
ensure that sharps waste is properly disposed of in purpose-built sharps boxes and never in ordinary waste bags or clinical waste bags
help to keep the clients home clean and tidy and alert Cavendish Homecare Professionals to any incidences of poor standards of cleanliness or hygiene
report any sharps ‘incident’ or ‘near miss’

Training and information

Cavendish Homecare Professionals views infection control training and supervision as a vital part of its infection control procedures.

All new staff should attend basic infection control awareness training and should read the policy on infection control and food preparation and handling as part of their induction process.
All staff should be trained in the proper implementation of this policy.
Records of attendance at infection control training will be kept including date attended and level of training.
Staff who are expected to handle sharps and sharps waste will be fully trained in safe techniques, practices and processes.

Date: January 2024

Version: 8 (Review)

Source: Expert Care Manager