Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Health and safetyWellbeingOccupational Health

Practitioners urged to join HSE medical sharps consultation

by Personnel Today 27 Sep 2012
by Personnel Today 27 Sep 2012

Occupational health practitioners are being urged to get involved in a major consultation on proposed new Regulations to protect healthcare workers from sharps injuries.

The consultation, which was launched in August by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), runs until 8 November 2012.

The consultation will gauge feelings towards the HSE’s proposed Health & Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013, which are being introduced to ensure UK compliance with a European Council Directive (2010/32/E) on sharps injuries.

The Regulations, the HSE has emphasised, are building on existing legislation in this area.

Key proposed changes include the need for employers – in cases where it is not reasonably practicable to avoid the use of medical sharps – to:

  • use “safe sharp” devices where ­reasonably practicable;
  • prevent the recapping of needles;
  • place secure containers and instructions for safe disposal of medical sharps close to the work area;
  • review procedures regularly; and
  • provide information and training to staff.

The Regulations also require ­employers to work with safety representatives in developing and promoting the information to be given to workers.

Where there has been a sharps accident or injury, employers will need to ensure that injured workers ­report the injury to the employer and provide information about the circumstances.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The HSE’s intention is that the ­latest date for implementation, as specified in the Directive, is 11 May 2013 so this will be the proposed date for the new Regulations to kick in. HSE guidance will be published 12 weeks before this, on 15 February.

Any OH practitioners wishing to contribute to the consultation can ­complete an online questionnaire or submit their views by email to or respond in writing to Martin Dilworth, Health and Safety Executive, 5S2 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS.

Personnel Today

previous post
Action plan to reduce suicides in England
next post
Psychological interventions may relieve skin conditions

You may also like

Decline in workplace deaths: falls from height remain...

3 Jul 2025

Aircrew with cancer pursuing MoD for compensation –...

2 Jul 2025

Third in north west fear ill health will...

2 Jul 2025

Welfare cuts would ‘undermine workforce inclusion and business...

27 Jun 2025

Supporting employees through substance abuse

24 Jun 2025

One in four young workers rate mental health...

17 Jun 2025

CIPD Festival of Work: ‘Wellbeing is not an...

11 Jun 2025

How employers can support cancer carers better

11 Jun 2025

Two-thirds of workers still struggling to access GPs...

10 Jun 2025

Employers must offer more flexibility to working carers,...

9 Jun 2025

  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today