New EU rules on prevention of injuries
Maltese health workers should be better protected against work-related injuries from sharp objects such as needlesticks following the approval of a new EU Directive this week.
The directive will oblige health employers to carry out risk assessments and training to curb such accidents.
Injuries and infections to healthcare workers from sharp objects are considered to be among the most serious health and safety threats in European workplaces. It is estimated that these types of incident cause about a million injuries a year.
The new directive forces employers to adopt safe procedures in the use and disposal of sharp medical objects and contaminated waste so as to reduce the risk of injury or infection.
"These procedures shall be regularly reassessed and shall form an integral part of the measures for the information and training of workers," the directive states.
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H Galea
Mar 11th 2010, 08:42
It would be better to let nurses know how to use needles,that's the first hint not to injure themselves and the patients.