Sharps Handling Awareness | Safe Work Training

Legal framework and duty holder responsibilities
Types of sharps and common sources of exposure
Health risks including blood borne pathogens
Safe handling techniques and prohibited practices
Sharps container types, placement, and use
Spill and exposure response procedures
Incident reporting and post exposure management

You receive a Certificate of Completion from Safe Work Training (RTO 21604). This supports compliance with section 21(2)(e) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, which requires employers to provide information, instruction, and training to employees. Refresher training is recommended every 3 years.

Is this a nationally accredited course?

No. This is a Non-Accredited Sharps Handling Awareness Training course. It provides essential knowledge and practical skills for risk management but does not result in a nationally recognised qualification.

What certification will I receive?

You will receive a Certificate of Completion/Attendance detailing the topics covered, which serves as your record for OHS compliance and professional development.

Does this course cover specific clinical or medical certifications?

No. This is a general WHS awareness course covering fundamental safety principles applicable across various industries (healthcare, cleaning, waste, labs). It is designed to complement, not replace, specific clinical or infection control training required for certain medical roles.

How does this training help my employer meet their legal obligations?

WHS regulations require employers to provide necessary training to control risks associated with hazardous items, like sharps. This course provides the information and instruction workers need to identify, handle, and dispose of sharps safely, directly helping the organization meet its duty of care.

What is defined as a 'sharp' in this course?

A 'sharp' is defined broadly as any object capable of piercing, cutting, or scratching the skin, including (but not limited to) needles, syringes, scalpels, broken glass, contaminated waste, and broken tools or equipment.

Will we practice handling and disposal?

Yes, absolutely. The course is highly practical and includes hands-on demonstrations and exercises using mock sharps and various disposal containers. You will practice the correct procedures for collection, transfer, and disposal into approved sharps containers.

Does the training cover responding to a needlestick injury?

Yes. A critical component of the course is outlining the correct emergency procedure to follow immediately after an exposure or injury, including first aid, washing procedures, reporting requirements, and seeking medical attention.

Is the training relevant outside of a healthcare setting?

Yes. The principles of hazard identification, safe containment, and correct disposal are essential in many industries, including waste management, cleaning, construction, hospitality, and manufacturing, where incidental contact with discarded or broken sharps may occur.

Will we cover how to select the right disposal container?

Yes. You will learn the requirements for approved sharps containers (material, puncture-proof, labelling, fill line) and the correct procedures for securing and replacing them when full.

How long is the training session?

The Sharps Handling Awareness course typically runs for 3 hours, including the practical handling demonstrations and procedures overview.

Do we need to supply our own PPE or sharps containers?

No. We supply all necessary demonstration equipment, including PPE, mock sharps, and various types of disposal containers for the hands-on practice sessions.

If delivered at our workplace, what is required?

We require a clean, well-lit room for the theory session and a cleared bench or table area for the practical demonstrations and handling exercises.

Is there a formal test at the end?

There is usually a short knowledge review or discussion-based assessment to confirm the participant understands the critical handling procedures, hazard identification methods, and injury response steps.