Compensation – How much for a needlestick?
A jury has awarded a South Carolina woman more than $4.6 million after she was stuck by a hypodermic needle picked up in a Target parking lot. Court documents say […]
accident
Sharps injury on Tenby beach
Discarded needles are always dangerous, but never more so when they are discarded into long grass or soft sand. They disappear from view, ready to stab those walking barefoot on […]
The impact of sharps injuries
A new video created by St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust deals with the impact of sharps injuries on the mental and occupational health of healthcare workers. This should […]
BMA sets out guidelines on needlestick injury
Guidance designed to protect doctors’ safety and patients’ rights following needlestick injuries has been published by the BMA. It provides information on the legal and ethical requirements faced by doctors […]
Posters Promoting Safe Practice – Needlesticks, Spillages
Some great posters available for download from Worcestershire Health Services NHS. Dealing with a variety of topics, including sharps bin use, needlestick protocol, spill management etc, they will be particularly […]
Anxious wait after 4-year-old had hypodermic needle in foot
A family has an anxious year ahead after their little girl stood on a hypodermic needle on a Gold Coast beach. A day enjoying the sun and surf at Currumbin […]
Dorking Good Samaritan Member injured by needle as he tried to save man who died in KFC
A member of the public performed CPR on the man who died in Dorking’s KFC on Monday, but he was injured by a needle as he did so. Surrey Police […]
Transforming medical waste into plastic lumber
Somerville, MA-based Triumvirate Environmental is turning medical and pharmaceutical waste into plastic lumber called “BestPlus.” According to Plastics News, the hazardous and medical waste management company acquired two companies in 2014: Medical Waste […]
NHS Tayside staff compensation exceeds £500,000 in five years
More than £500,000 has been paid out in compensation to NHS Tayside staff in the past five years as a result of accidents or injury. The incidents included almost 200 […]
Needlestick injuries: NHS trusts fail to comply with rules
NHS trusts are still not complying with “safer sharps” rules, research has argued, which is potentially putting NHS employees at unnecessary risk of needlestick injuries and blood-borne infections such as hepatitis and HIV. The study from […]
Taiwan zoo Panda accidentally swallows hypodermic needle
In yet another twist to sharps injury, a two-year-old panda has accidentally swallowed a syringe needle during a regular blood sampling process in a zoo in Taipei, Taiwan. Yuanzai, the […]
New guidance on managing sharps injuries
The Health Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group (HSWPG) have created several guidance documents for the NHS, using partnership working to create valuable guidance. The latest resource is new guidance on […]
Blood tests for 4-year old after needelstick on Newton Abbot bus
Aids and hepatitis B tests for boy, 4, pricked by needle on bus A mother is facing a “horrible” wait after her young child underwent tests for Aids and hepatitis […]
Toddler stabbed by needle on Dublin Bus
A toddler has been stabbed by a “dirty heroin needle” on a Dublin Bus. A young girl has been pricked by a heroin-filled needle on a bus in Dublin – […]
Compliance with Safer Sharps legislation – the UK Hall of Shame
The Health and Safety Executive are not presently blessed with a reputation for efficiency, cherry-picking a few targets and concentrating on what might be considered the low hanging fruit in […]
Needlestick injury cases settled using PPE Regulations
Bellamy -v- Nottingham City Council Nottingham County Court, 19th December 2014 C was employed as a Public Realm Operative. As he was working on grounds maintenance at a primary School, he was […]
Hotel staff exposed to clinical wastes
Some time ago, University College Hospital London initiated a scheme whereby early discharge of patients saw them transferred to a nearby hotel to facilitate on-going care. It’s a sensible cost-saving […]
Graphic account of needlestick injury whilst working in Ebola Treatment Unit
Thinking about the impact of sharps injury? Concerned about sharps safety? Learning of the psychological trauma that goes hand-in-hand with sharps injury? Read this! “While providing clinical care in the […]
Needlestick – so more than just HIV, Hep B/C
Sharps injury or needlestick is a constant fear, with the focus being on the possible transmission of HIV or of Hepatitis B or C, and the associated psychological trauma that goes […]
Removing pharma waste from the community
On the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum we have for some years now been pushing for community-wide hazardous waste take-back arrangements, organised perhaps by local authorities who might make available better […]
South Tyneside scaps domiciliary clinical waste collections
South Tyneside council is to scrap domiciliary clinical waste collections. Announced on their website, the move is no doubt predicated on concerns regarding cost. As an alternative, households producing sharps wastes […]
Teenager struck by needle on Brighton bus seat
A 16-year-old girl is anxiously awaiting blood test results after sitting on a needle on a bus. She was on the top deck of the number 24 Brighton and Hove Bus […]
Clinical waste goes to hospital laundry
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has informed staff of no less than 40 incidents in the last 3 months when clinical waste was being sent to the laundry, […]
Cycle safety
Viridor brings cyclist safety to London waste fleet The company has fitted its London-based waste collection vehicles with sideguards and sensors, to help prevent collisions on the road with cyclists. […]
Child has needlestick on local bus
A single mum whose daughter pricked her finger on a blood-stained needle discarded on a bus has spoken of the two month ordeal her family endured before finally getting the […]
Council pays thousands in compensation for staff needlestick injuries
Dublin City Council paid out some €8.32 million last year in staff and public injury claims. According to figures released to Councillor Jim O’Callaghan, a total of €11 million has been […]
Needlestick – a mother’s anguish
8-year-old stuck by hypodermic needle found on school playground Ethan Gurr likes to collect “treasures,” according to his mom, but the 8-year-old’s latest find has doctors testing Ethan’s blood to […]
Rising number of young men in London injecting steroids
The number of young men in London injecting steroids is rising on a “regular basis” a drugs charity has warned. South Westminster Drug and Alcohol Service said an increasing number […]
British Ebola healthcare worker monitored after Sierra Leone sharps injury
Public Health England says yet another healthcare worker who may have had contact with the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone has been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in London after returning […]
12 staff sue for psychological trauma after sharps injury
A dozen NHS Grampian workers have successfully sued their employers after being injured by needles at work. Staff faced months not knowing whether they had been hit with infections such […]