Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Look at the Guide to the Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurences Regulations 1995. Especially paraghraph 161 in particular Hepititis.

I suggest you ask the HSE if sharps injuries should be reported, there is a requirement to report the occurence when it is known that an infection has resulted so report it anyway, if there is no infection then so what you have acted on the side of caution.

Posted By Bryan Nott
I think technically it is not reportable in itself otherwise every nick or graze sustained in the course of employment would be reportable.

The significant thing about needlestick injuries is the psychological injury arising out of the possibility of a very serious infection being contracted. Psychological injury isn't dealt with seperately under the regulations although obviously if it results in more than 3 days away from work it becomes reportable.

Obviously if a reportable disease is diagnosed then it becomes reportable.

As it happens, in the past Criminal Injuries payments have been made for the psychological harm caused, for example, to postal workers who sustain needlestick injuries from discarded needles when emptying post boxes. The situation in a tenanted property may be different as it will be harder to establish that the discarding of the needle could amount to a crime of violence.

Posted By andrew morris
sorry, also meant to say, that the ACOP goes further to say that biological agents in this case refer to hazard groups 3 and 4. This is talking about germ warfare type hazards, brewed up in a lab. Refer to para 120 & 121 of the ACOP and look at Schedule 3 of COSHH which explains what the hazard groups are.