Sharps injury checklist - BVSDE

Safety devices checklist
• have all unnecessary needles been eliminated from use,
including needles used for drawing blood from intravenous
and central lines that can be replaced by needleless or blunt
cannula devices?
Yes No Action
• does your workplace use automatically retracting finger/heel
lancets in place of manual lancets or non-retracting spring
lancets?
• have all staff been advised not to re-sheath needles manually
or remove needles from syringes after use?
• has your workplace introduced safer IV catheters?
• has your workplace introduced safer blood collection devices?
• has your workplace adopted needleless, blunt or protected
needle IV systems?
• is your workplace aware of the risks associated with
‘piggyback’ or intermittent IV line connections?
• has your workplace adopted devices with integrated safety
features for needles and syringes?
• are theatre staff following expert guidance on sharp instument
use? (1998 UK Departments of Health Expert Advisory Group)
• is your hospital/trust PPE policy implemented for gloves, facial
protection, clothing and footwear?
• does sharps disposal conform to your local waste
disposal policy?
www.saferneedlesnow.net