Sharps Safety in the Operating Theatre: A Quick Reference Guide
This quick reference guide is designed for theatre teams, scrub practitioners, and surgical nurses who need a clear, practical overview of sharps safety in the operating environment.
Key Principles
- Treat every sharp as a risk : regardless of whether it has been used.
- Use a neutral zone : establish a designated area for passing sharps; never hand-to-hand.
- Announce sharps : verbally communicate when a sharp is being passed or placed in the neutral zone.
- Account for all sharps : conduct a sharps count before, during, and after every procedure.
- Dispose immediately : used blades go directly into the sharps container; never set them down on the drape or instrument tray.
Blade Changing
- Always use a blade removal device, never use fingers.
- Fit new blades using the blade foil or a blade-fitting device.
- Confirm the blade is securely seated before use.
Sharps Count Protocol
- Count all blades at the start of the procedure.
- Recount after any blade change.
- Final count before wound closure and at end of procedure.
- Any discrepancy must be investigated before the patient leaves theatre.
Incident Reporting
Any sharps injury must be reported immediately according to your organisation’s incident reporting procedure. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be considered promptly where indicated.
Useful Standards and Guidelines
- NHS Employers Sharps Safety guidance
- Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013
- NICE guidelines on infection prevention and control