SHARPS - 31.08.2016

Sharps regulations are being ignored

Legislation

The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 (SIHR) cover the use of sharp medical instruments such as needles, canulae and scalpels (yr.11, iss.17, pg.7, see The next step ). The legislation applies to all healthcare sector employers whose staff are at risk of sharps injuries. This includes staff in hospitals, dental surgeries, etc. and contractors providing portering, maintenance, security and cleaning support. In 2015 HSE inspectors carried out visits to assess how some NHS organisations were getting on with implementing the new Regulations (see The next step ).

Methodology

The inspections targeted locations where there was evidence of some kind of existing problem, e.g. previous accidents. In total, 40 organisations were inspected across England, Scotland and Wales. The inspectors observed workplaces and working practices, reviewed records and interviewed key staff members.

Results

33 of the organisations (83%) had not fully complied with the SIHR . Enforcement action was taken against 45% of those visited with the remainder issued with warning letters. The problems included:

• a failure to use safer sharps, e.g. needles with an integrated shield which activates on completion of the procedure
• bringing in safer sharps but not removing old stocks or preventing further purchase of unsafe equipment
• starting the process of improvement but not following through to a conclusion
• allowing staff to follow their own preference for more hazardous equipment when it was reasonably practicable to use a safer alternative.

Take action

Tip 1. Make sure that sharps bins are available at the point of use and that they are secured out of the reach of children. Even simple precautions such as this were lacking in some of the locations visited.

Tip 2. Where it’s reasonably practicable to do so, you must introduce and enforce the use of safer sharps. However, as acknowledged in the study findings, there are times when a safer device is unsuitable for genuine medical reasons. If your clinical staff are telling you this, make sure that your risk assessment shows the additional precautions which are necessary to avoid injury.

Tip 3. If you’re a contractor with staff at risk from sharps, liaise closely with your client to ensure that their policies and procedures protect your staff as well as theirs.

Tip 4. Review your own arrangements against the regulatory requirements by using the inspectors’ assessment form (see The next step ). Also read the examples of good practice published in the HSE’s report to identify potential practical improvements.

For a previous article on sharps, a copy of the HSE’s report and for a copy of the HSE’s Inspection Proforma - Prevention of Sharps Injuries, visit http://tipsandadvice-healthandsafety.co.uk/download (HS 14.22.07).