A Sunderland council cleaner faces an anxious wait after a sharps injury incurred while cleaning public toilets in the town centre.

The use of effective PPE items is essential, but this must take second place to awareness and sharp observation to spot discarded needles, then to remove them for safe disposal using litter pickers of equivalent. Regrettably, this cleaner had worn only a pair of Marigold gloves which would clearly have been inadequate for the task.

People who inject drugs (PWIDs), the new name of intravenous drug users (IDUs), often use public toilets to inject, and then will go to great lengths to cover their tracks by hiding needles in corners, in cisterns, and in other locations away from sight. On occasions, it seems that PWIDs will deliberately create a booby trap for others, placing needles in locations intended to do harm to the unwary. This creates a particular hazard for cleaners and others, who may come across exposed needles and/or be tasked with their removal.

City centre toilets are likely hotspots and construction (refurbishment) and maintenance should eliminate any hiding places  or recesses to prevent needles lying unseen. Blue lighting will discourage PWIDs, while if the problem persists placement of one or more secure sharps boxes will be advantageous.

There is an uncomfortable future for this particular cleaner, who faces an anxious 3-6 month wait for serological tests and perhaps far longer period of post-traumatic anxiety disorder even if seroconversion does not occur.

We can only wish him  well for the future.