Sharps Management Refreshers Staff Remember

Sharps injuries remain one of the most common primary care incidents. Practical refreshers that focus on prevention, response, and learning help teams embed safe habits and show inspectors that risks are managed.

Anchor every refresher on three pillars

1. Prevention: Reinforce safe handling, the use of approved devices, and correct disposal in puncture resistant containers.
2. Exposure response: Rehearse immediate first aid, reporting routes, escalation, and access to post exposure prophylaxis.
3. Learning loop: Review incidents and near misses, agree actions, and track whether changes reduce future risk.

Make training bite sized and relevant

• Run short huddles during clinic changeovers using anonymised scenarios drawn from recent incidents.
• Update signage near sharps bins with clear instructions and QR codes linking to the response procedure.
• Invite pharmacy, community nursing, or waste contractors to share wider system learning and reinforce shared responsibility.

Monitor practice regularly

• Observe sharps disposal during routine clinics and give immediate feedback on technique and bin usage.
• Check bin labelling, fill levels, temporary closures, and collection schedules to prevent overfilling.
• Track the time between exposure and reporting or prophylaxis decisions to confirm staff act without delay.

Keep evidence organised

• Record attendance for every refresher session and note which roles still need training.
• Maintain an incident log with root cause analysis, implemented actions, and follow up checks.
• Update the sharps risk assessment when new services launch, new devices are introduced, or premises change.

Next steps for the team

Review the last two sharps incidents, extract one improvement, and share it in the next team briefing. Use the discussion to introduce premium SOP collections, audit templates, and training packs that support larger practices or PCNs.

Disclaimer

This guidance is for general information. It is not a substitute for legal, clinical, or specialist advice. Always seek professional support tailored to your practice.