Social Partner Agreement on needle-stick injuries

European employer and employee representatives have agreed a social partner agreement on how the hazards from needle sticks and other sharp objects is to be managed.

More than 1 million needle stick injuries occur every year making such injuries one of the most common health and safety threats in workplaces throughout Europe and particularly to those in the healthcare sector. There is a significant risk to exposure to blood-borne viruses including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.

The agreement aims to:

• Achieve the safest possible working environment for employees and protect workers at risk
• Prevent injuries to workers caused by all types of sharp medical objects (including needle sticks)
• Set up an integrated approach to assessing and preventing risks as well as to train and inform workers.

This agreement was negotiated through the social dialogue process, which is designed to enable European level employer and employee representatives to agree on how specific hazards will be managed without the intervention of the European Commission or member state governments.

At the request of the European social partners, the European Commission intends to submit a proposal to implement the agreement by a Directive to make it legally binding.

For information on other health and safety European level social partner agreements and the social dialogue process please see the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/europe/euronews/dialogue.htm