Reducing sharps injuries in veterinary practice

The handling of sharp objects in veterinary practice is common procedure; veterinarians and veterinary nurses are required to administer injections, place catheters and take blood samples. Surgical procedures are performed using blades and sharp instruments; many consumable materials are of hard plastics, which also have the potential to cause injury. Thus all uses of sharps need to be approached in a mature and responsible manner (Department of Health, 2013; Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2013a).

In practice, a common term for percutaneous injury is ‘needle-stick injury’. A needle-stick injury or sharps injury is when the sharp item penetrates the skin. Anxiety and concerns about adverse effects are at the forefront as a result of skin penetration and the potential exposure to infectious disease agents from the sharps (Horsburgh and Mahon, 2008), especially if the sharps are contaminated with medicines or blood.