Needlestick injuries are among the most frequent and serious occupational hazards faced by healthcare workers — and the consequences can be life-altering. A single accidental puncture from a contaminated needle can expose a worker to more than 20 types of infectious bloodborne pathogens, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. Despite being largely preventable, needlestick injuries continue to occur at alarming rates in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings where sharps are routinely used during patient care. This course is designed to equip healthcare workers with the knowledge and practical strategies needed to minimize their risk of needlestick injury and respond appropriately when an exposure incident occurs.
 
 Learners will identify the risky devices and unsafe work practices most commonly associated with needlestick injuries, and explore the employer strategies and regulatory requirements in place to prevent them. The course covers safer work practices for handling, using, and disposing of sharps during patient care, as well as the safer needle devices and engineering controls available to reduce exposure risk. Risk recognition, injury reporting procedures, and post-exposure protocols are also addressed, ensuring employees understand their rights and responsibilities following an incident.
 
 Upon completion, healthcare workers will have the tools and awareness needed to protect themselves from one of the most preventable occupational hazards in the clinical environment.