Hi Lou,
When the new sharps legislation came into force we did a new risk assessment and an outcome of that was to move towards using a safer sharps system.
In my practice as the traditional syringes fail, they are being replaced by a safer sharps system. We have just bought some Safety Plus, and in the next couple of years the whole practice will be using them.
I have to admit the principal wasn't keen on them as they are approximately three times the price of the needles we are currently using but the I got the practice manager on board by doing the costings and presenting her with the pros and cons of each system and of not using any system at all.
In all honesty I think that re-sheathing using an appropriate re-sheathing device and disposing of used needles doesn't actually carry that much risk if the person doing it is competent & lets face it, if a dentist can't re-sheath a needle competently, should they be wielding a drill?
I have to add, that in my practice it is the clinicians responsibility to re-sheath and dispose of all used needles so the nurses should never be doing it and I regularly remind them of that.
I would put together a short presentation showing your principals the benefits of using a safer sharps system and work out some costings for them; is there any way you could make saving on other materials/sundries you buy to off set against the cost of the safer sharps?
In regard to protecting the nurses, I would have them refuse to re-sheath or dispose of used needles on the grounds of health and safety. If the dentists don't want to invest in safer sharps then they can be the ones to re-sheath and dispose & put themselves at risk.
