A set of management guides have been developed by BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) to help healthcare organisations better understand the EU Directive on the prevention of sharps injuries, legislation and to plan a compliance strategy.
It is estimated that over a million sharps injuries occur in Europe each year. The EU Directive (Council Directive 2010/32/EUi) is designed to help prevent healthcare workers from sustaining injuries from medical sharps such as hypodermic needles and blood collection devices, which can lead to infection with bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis and HIV. The Directive, and early implementation guidance from key institutions, specifically cites the use of “safety-engineered” medical devices. Compliance with the Directive will be mandatory by May 2013 at the latest, but many healthcare organisations have already introduced safety programmes to protect staff, to avoid costly and damaging litigation, regulatory criticism or improvement orders, fines or compensation claims and reputational damage. The guides include a short management overview of the Directive; the key points of the business case for conversion implemented by early-conversion healthcare organisations; a review of existing penalties, compensation payments and legislative requirements; and safety device definitions and best practice.
