Sharp instruments can cause injury
Needle-stick or sharps injuries are when a sharp object, such as hypodermic needle or scalpel, punctures the skin and these incidents are a relatively common hazard for those working in the medical health profession.

Injury from contaminated sharp instruments constitutes a major occupational hazard for persons working within the healthcare profession.

The National Audit Office report A Safer Place to Work highlighted the risk to National Health Service staff posed by contaminated sharps and subsequently a confidential questionnaire was posted, between October 2002 and May 2003, to 300 healthcare professionals in clinical work.

Of the 300 questionnaires posted, 93% were completed and returned and the results backed up the National Audit Office report detailing some 38% of staff had experienced at least one needle-stick during the prior year and a massive three quarters of all respondents replied that they had suffered such an injury at some point throughout there careers.

Hepatitis and HIV are blood borne viruses and can be transmitted through sharps injury, so it is quite surprising to understand that just over half of those affected had actually reported the incident.

If you have received a needle-stick or sharps injury, you should report the incident and seek immediate treatment. In addition, should you wish to enquire, you may find that you can claim compensation.