Needlestick, Syringe or Sharps Injuries
These injuries are caused when you are pricked by a needle. The injury in itself is normally fairly minor. However, the trauma is not. This is due to the fear that the needle might not be sterile and thus may pass on infection. The diseases that cause the most concern are HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Normally, if you have been injured in this way, you will need to undergo blood tests to find out if you have been infected. Thankfully most of the time the result is negative. However, it will often take 6 months or more for the test results to come through. At the very least people will have suffered considerable worry during this time. It is not unusual for people to need counselling. Of course, if you have been really unfortunate and have indeed been infected then the situation is much more serious.
As with all claims, if you are to be successful it will be necessary to show that someone owed you a duty of care and that they have breached this duty of care. Most people affected by these injuries work in the caring professions, or are cleaners. For people working in the caring professions there are established practices for disposing of used needles or syringes in a safe manner. Problems and injuries arise when these procedures are not followed. For cleaners, the issue is more of people being provided with proper protective clothing (gloves etc).
As with all work accident claims, if you have been injured you should report the injury immediately and ensure that a record is entered in the Accident Report Book. Then seek immediate medical attention. It might be an idea to, safely and without risk of you or anyone else being injured, collect the offending needle or syringe so that it may also be examined.
