Injury involving the puncturing of the skin by a medical needle (“needlestick injuries”) or similar sharp implement poses a significant workplace hazard in a variety of employment areas such as healthcare, laboratory and social care settings.
Needlestick injuries occur when the skin is punctured or cut by a needle or similarly by other “Sharps” (including scalpels, razors, scissors and any other instrument for cutting skin). Injury can occur not only to workers who use such implements in the course of their employment, but also to workers who may be inadvertently put at risk due to the improper storage and disposal of needles and other Sharps.
Beyond immediate physical injury, a significant further hazard surrounding needlestick injuries is the potential for the communication of infectious diseases such as blood-borne viruses including HIV and Hepatitis. Even in small amounts, these diseases can spread effectively through infectious fluids transferred via needle or other Sharps. There is also the potential that a needlestick injury could communicate amounts of hazardous drugs to the victim.
The Health and Safety Executive notes a higher risk of infection from hollow-bore needles, and procedures including include intra-vascular cannulation, venepuncture and injections and use of IV cannula, winged steel-butterfly-needles, needles and syringes and phlebotomy needles.
As other dangerous equipment, workplaces are bound by relevant Health & Safety legislation, including:
- Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002
- Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)
The law states that employers have a duty to ensure that all workers are able to carry out their work in a safe environment, this includes taking reasonable steps to protect them against needlestick injuries. In addition, a proper risk assessment must be carried out in relation to the dangers of needlestick injuries in your workplace.
Examples of an employers’ negligence in fulfilling their legal duties to prevent needlestick injury include failing to provide workers with adequate training on needle safety or neglecting to ensure that needles and other hazardous Sharps are correctly stored and disposed of in accordance with official guidance.
If you think you may have a claim following a needlestick injury at work, please contact us to discuss the matter on 0800 988 8082 or complete our online enquiry form and a member of our team will get back to you right away.
