Handling needles and sharps safely is essential for protecting staff, service users, and the wider public from injury and infection. Sharps injuries can expose individuals to serious blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
Many workplaces encounter sharps risks, including healthcare environments, social care settings, waste management services, cleaning roles, and public services where discarded needles may be present.
This course provides a clear introduction to safe sharps handling, sharps disposal procedures, and what to do if a sharps injury occurs.
The training explains the legal responsibilities of employers and staff and provides practical guidance on how to reduce the risk of sharps injuries in the workplace.
The course is based on UK legislation and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), NHS infection prevention guidance, and the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
Who This Course Is For
This course is suitable for anyone who may encounter sharps risks during their work, including:
- healthcare workers
- care workers
- cleaners and domestic staff
- waste management staff
- facilities teams
- community and outreach workers
- tattoo and piercing practitioners
It is also useful for organisations that want to improve workplace safety awareness regarding sharps hazards.
Course Disclaimer:
This course is designed for information and awareness purposes only and does not, unless otherwise stated, provide a regulated qualification or evidence of occupational competence. Learners are responsible for obtaining any additional training, assessment, supervision, or certification required by their employer, sector regulations, or professional standards.
