Health and Safety Update (December 2008)
Risk Assessment and Needlestick Injuries
Health and welfare employees are particularly at risk from
exposure to blood-borne pathogens following an injury. Such
injuries are of concern as they can cause the worker to be infected
by blood-borne pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi and other
micro-organisms). The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and
hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) are the commonest and best- known
risks, although there are over 20 blood-borne diseases that may be
transmitted.
Exposure can occur through contact with infectious blood or
other human bodily fluids when contact is made with wounds or
mucous membranes. Such contact can be a result of:
- inoculation of blood by a needle or other 'sharp';
- contamination of broken skin with blood;
- swallowing a person's blood e.g. after mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation;
- contamination where the individual has an open wound and
clothes have been soaked by blood;
- bites (where the skin is broken).
Other identified areas where workers may be at risk include:
- prison and probation services;
- police and security services;
- customs services;
- social service workers and youth workers;
- the funeral industry;
- the body piercing and body art industry;
- waste disposal;
- the construction and demolition industry.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has issued
these 'e-facts', covering risk assessment in relation to
needlestick injuries. They follow the general principles of risk
assessment:
- avoiding risks;
- assessing the remaining risks;
- combating risks at source;
- adapting the work to the individual;
- adapting to technical progress;
- replacing the dangerous by the non- or less- dangerous;
- developing an overall prevention policy;
- collective measures above individual methods;
- instructions to workers.
The information also includes specific guidance on the use of
risk assessment in relation to needlestick injuries. Preventative
measures are suggested and a case study included illustrating best
practice.
The information is available at:
http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/e-facts/efact40