The risk of a sharps injury is ongoing in a healthcare setting. Those affected can include clinical staff and non-clinical staff. This training is mandatory for all staff exposed to this risk.
This training is only available to HSE staff.
Factors to consider
These factors will help you determine the requirements for sharps awareness training in your work area:
- training needs assessment (TNA)
- work activities
- work environment
- risk of exposure
Who this training is for
This module is mandatory for staff who:
- are or may be exposed to a sharps injury risk
- are responsible for managing staff who are or may be exposed to a sharps injury risk in a healthcare setting (applies to grades clerical admin Grade V and above; and CNM 1 and CMM 1 and above)
Access the training on HSeLanD.
Course specification
After completing this programme, trainees will be able to:
- identify the risks associated with a sharps injury in your workplace
- carry out your responsibilities in managing and preventing a sharps injury
- take immediate first aid steps following a sharps injury
- follow the correct steps to report a sharps injury or an occupational blood or body fluid exposure
Duration
60 minutes online
Assessment
There is an online assessment.
How to book
Training records
Managers must keep copies of employees' training records on file. This is in line with the HSE National Records Retention Policy.
The policy requires managers to keep electronic files for 7 years after an employee's term of service ends.
A template for recording training dates is included in the OSH training toolkit.
Contact the Health and Safety helpdesk for more information or advice
Refresher frequency
This programme must be refreshed every 3 years. In some cases refresher training may be required more frequently and this will be identified through the risk assessment or training needs assessment (TNA) process.