The Awareness and Practical Handling of Discarded Needles (Sharps) and Drug Related Waste
| Course Duration | 1 Day |
| Number of Delegates | 10 max |
| Price | £850 + VAT |
Who would benefit from this course?
- People who are required to deal with discarded needles (sharps) and / or who work in environments where needles are frequently found, for example, street wardens, hostel workers, housing officers and voids clearance teams, to name but a few.
Course objectives
- The interactive, hands on workshop, aims to raise the awareness of the risks of discarded needles (sharps), how to adopt safer working practices when handling objects where needles could be hidden within them, and how to develop procedures for minimising risks in these environments
During the course, participants will:
- Gain an understanding of why discarded needles (sharps) and drug-related waste are becoming such a problem
- Be made very aware of where needles and other items may occur, be hidden or even used to booby trap
- Learn and practice some very simple habits to minimise their risks of needlestick injury
- Learn about the consequences of needlestick injury and self contamination from drug-related waste
- Learn about and practice using a Safer Working System to help minimise risks when dealing with needles
- Select and develop the use of different tools to tackle different problems
- Practice new habits of not touching any items, whilst retaining reasonable working speed
- Work out how to better organise complex search and clear operations
- Become aware of the additional measures needed by those dealing with blood and other body fluids
- Learn about the measures needed to be taken by those who may come into contact with drug users
- Understand the importance of personal hygiene and equipment cleansing in relation to drug-related waste
- Hear about the first aid measure needed for those who suffer needlestick injury or self-contamination
Course Outline:
Session 1. The Sharps Problem
- Scale and source of the Problem
- Possible locations; booby trapping
- Basics of a Safer Working System
- Practical Exercise
Session 2. Nature and Diversity of the Risks
- Viral diseases
- Are vaccinations effective?
- A range of contaminated items
- Practical Exercise
Session 3. Hygiene
- How viruses enter the body
- Personal Hygiene
- Practical Exercise
Session 4. Additional Risks
- Dealing with small quantities of blood or body fluids
- People Risks
- Practical Exercise
Session 5. First Aid
- What to do in the event of receiving a needlestick injury or other possible contamination
- Final Practical
Summary and Discussions
Course Fees:
For in-house training, this course is currently charged at £850 plus VAT . Up to 10 delegates may attend the session, making this a cost-effective way ( £85 per person) of training your staff.
All costs are based on carrying out the training at your premises - we ask you to provide the training room and flip chart, and some simple props for the practical exercises.
Depending upon location and timings, a contribution towards travel and accommodation costs might be requested, but these will be agreed with you before your order is confirmed.
This course is approved by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, and provides one day towards the Institution's Graduate Structured Education and Training Programme, or Six hours of Continuing Professional Development.
| Course Duration | 1 Day |
| Number of Delegates | 10 max |
| Price | £850 + VAT |
