Protecting healthcare
workers from needlestick injuries
The Safer Needles Network is aimed at those concerned with reducing needlestick injuries and bloodborne exposures.
Needlestick accidents occur when healthcare workers jab themselves or a colleague with a needle, or other sharp medical device, which is contaminated with potentially infected blood.
Second only to back-injuries as a cause of occupational injury amongst NHS workers, an ongoing RCN surveillance project suggests that as many as 100,000 needlestick accidents occur in the UK every year.
More about the Safer Needles Network »
Read about our Research »
Welcome to the new Safer Needles Network website. We hope that you find it interesting, informative and easy to use. We welcome your views. Please contact us at saferneedles@saferneedles.org.uk
Feature Articles
Articles relating to research and issues surrounding needlestick injuries.
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Revised 2011 version of the 'Blue Book' chapter on Needlestick
27 SEP 2011
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'To the point' report by Debra Adams published
5 MAY 2011
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Directive published in Official Journal of the European Union
7 JUN 2010
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Council of the European Union adopts rules on sharps
11 MAY 2010
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EU-OSHA guidance on risk assessment and needlestick
17 MAR 2010
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Accidental blood and body fluid exposure among doctors
11 FEB 2009
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Generic Business Case for Investment in Safer Systems of Work
15 DEC 2007
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Safety training and innovative devices can mitigate the risk
12 NOV 2007
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Needlestick Injuries among Surgeons in Training
27 JUN 2007
Current News
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27 MAR 2012
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Registration open for European Biosafety Summit
28 FEB 2012
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Health bosses act on needle safety
28 SEP 2011
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Revised 'Blue Book' chapter on needlestick injury published
21 SEP 2011
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EU-OSHA: Prevention from sharp injuries in the workplace
11 JUL 2011
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Draft advice on HCAIs published by NICE
5 JUL 2011
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Debra Adams paper on needlestick injury legislation
5 MAY 2011
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Nursing Standard: An evaluation of sharp safety devices
5 MAY 2011
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Prevention of Sharps Injuries workshops
1 FEB 2011
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Emergency meeting to tackle dirty needles in Cambridge
9 SEP 2010