In this course we’ll start by looking at some statistics relating to discarded needles, then define ‘sharps’ and look at the different types that can be found in ‘sharps litter’, ranging from needles, syringes and scalpel blades to broken glass, knives, scissors and nails. It then covers the primary and secondary risks from sharps. It’ll look at the responsibilities of employers and how they must use risk assessment to ensure workers safety, as much as possible. Then, the course will take a detailed look at Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and Tetanus. There’ll be a section on the Chain of Infection, helping you to understand how an infection gets passed on, and what steps can be taken to break the chain and stop the process. It’ll look at the probability of picking up an infection from a needlestick injury, and the factors that can affect this. It’s important to always handle discarded sharps safely so the course will take you through the equipment you need.
