Sharps Management SWMS

Sharps injuries expose healthcare workers to bloodborne pathogens including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, with transmission risk varying from 30 per cent for hepatitis B (unvaccinated) to 0.3 per cent for HIV per percutaneous exposure. Australia records thousands of needlestick and sharps injuries annually, many of which go unreported. The new Healthcare Code of Practice commencing February 2026 requires healthcare PCBUs to implement safety-engineered devices, establish sharps disposal systems, and maintain exposure incident management procedures. This template covers all sharps handling activities with controls mapped to the binding codes effective 1 July 2026.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 7.1 — Hazardous Chemicals (biological); Part 4.1 — Infection Control

hrcw category

Work involving biological hazards (bloodborne pathogens)

code of practice

Healthcare Code of Practice 2026 (binding 1 July 2026 under Section 26A)

section 26a binding

Yes — Healthcare code binding July 2026. Non-compliance is a standalone offence.

Hazards

Hazard	Consequence	Likelihood
Needlestick injury during injection, blood draw, or needle recapping	Hepatitis B/C transmission, HIV transmission	Possible
Scalpel blade injury during surgical procedures and disposal	Deep laceration, bloodborne pathogen exposure	Possible
Sharps injury from improperly disposed items in waste or linen	Unexpected percutaneous exposure, psychological distress	Possible
Sharps container overfilling leading to injury during disposal	Needlestick from protruding sharps, contamination	Possible
Splash exposure during sharps-related procedures	Mucosal bloodborne pathogen exposure	Possible

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Implement safety-engineered sharps devices (retractable needles, shielded scalpels) for all applicable procedures

Prohibit needle recapping — use single-handed scoop technique only where recapping is clinically necessary

Position sharps containers at point of use within arm's reach of the procedure

Replace sharps containers when three-quarters full — never allow overfilling

Establish post-exposure prophylaxis protocol with 24-hour access to PEP assessment

Provide hepatitis B vaccination to all workers with potential sharps exposure

Maintain sharps injury register with root cause analysis for each incident

Recent Prosecutions

SafeWork NSW v Private Hospital$185,000

Multiple sharps injuries reported over 12 months without implementation of safety-engineered devices. Hospital continued to use conventional needles despite availability of safety alternatives.

2023 — SafeWork NSW Prosecution Database

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓Safety-engineered device selection for each sharps-using procedure

✓No-recapping policy with exceptions documented and controlled

✓Sharps container placement, replacement, and disposal procedure

✓Post-exposure prophylaxis protocol with access pathway and timeframes

✓Sharps injury reporting, investigation, and root cause analysis procedure

Need a compliant Sharps Management SWMS?

Our WHS consultants develop sharps management SWMS with safety device specifications and PEP protocols for your healthcare setting.