I've been tasked with creating a training programme in SHARPs safety, almost all the info on-line is for medical or laboratory staff and I will be delivering to environmental workers ( gardening etc ), street wardens and janitorial staff. Has anyone ever delivered this type of sharps training? Any help will be much appreciated. Kenny

I'm feeling nice so PM me and I'll send you a PowerPoint though give me time to take out the branding. It is for sharps in a non medical environment but I looked to the medical world for inspiration.

Hi Safetrain I did not go into a lot of detail about sharps with my guys (Street sweepers, gardeners, litter pickers, toilet attendants) just the basics which then started a conversation about ways of working that did lead to some improvements. Guys- We need super dooper needleproof gloves because we are environmental workers and sometimes have to pick up all sorts. Me- Have you seen CSI on channel 5 when they go through someones rubbish for evidence? Guys- Err....yes, some of us know of the overly dramatised science and forensics programme you refer to. Me- Are you looking for evidence? If yes spread it all out on the ground, use lots of maglites even though there is a room light and do not touch anything by hand, always use a tool be it tongs, a pen you no longer want but is already covered in your DNA or some other type of implement. Remember every contact leaves a trace so walk through the area in your street clothes and never don booties or tyvek. If on the other hand you are doing the day job i.e. environmental cleaning the forensic solution is equally valid. Use tools, brush, pan, tongs, litter picker. Avoid hand/bodily contact. If you find a needle open your sharps bin, set it on the ground and move the needle with tongs/picker to the bin. Do not hold sharps bin in one hand and picker in t'other, then try and bring the two together as you run the risk of stabbing yourself with the needle. Glass- dustpan and brush Detected glass i.e. pick up a litter bin bag and hear a tinkle from inside- double bag and apply warning cable tie (one man used to run ahead accumulating bin bags at one pick up point in the street so this warned his colleagues of a bag containing glass and therefore exercise extra caution when lifting and handling). Guys- you're rather annoying aren't you. Me- My work here is done. Some LA's use paper bin bags for street bins near pubs etc. as they give better protection against glass sharps compared to plastic bags. Some also supply their workers with extra tough material down the outsides of their trousers as this is where the bin bag normally rests and if sharps are present it can be predominantly leg injuries. Hope that is of some use Jeff.

Thanks Jeff, oh and as for the Cornwell books, download to kindle ( engineering control - lowered risk of paper cuts : ).Grand so!

Hi Kenny, I am in the same boat you were in, faced with developing training and also the risk assessments and method statements, but I work in social housing. I have various trades people going into tenants homes carrying out repairs work, plus Street Wardens who do some bin emptying, tidying, etc. There is a reasonable programme in place, but I want to get to understand the issue more and plug some of the gaps I feel are there. Would you be willing to share what you have developed. Thanks Sarah