Sharps Management SWMS (Needlestick Prevention)
Safe use, transport, and disposal of needles, lancets, scalpels, trocars, and other healthcare sharps. Covers retractable and safety-engineered devices, sharps container placement and replacement, needlestick hazard elimination at source, never-recap procedures, and post-exposure prophylaxis pathway.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Safe handling, transport, and disposal of healthcare sharps including needles, lancets, scalpels, and trocars. Covers safety-engineered devices, sharps container management, never-recap procedures, and post-exposure pathways. WHS Regulation 2025 Part 3.1 requires documented risk controls for bloodborne pathogen exposure in clinical and community healthcare settings.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Hepatitis B, C, or HIV seroconversion
Penetrating injury during disposal
Splash exposure and percutaneous injury
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Eliminate recapping; use safety-engineered retractable devices and single-handed activation at point of care.
- 2Place AS 4031-compliant sharps containers within arm's reach; replace at three-quarter fill line.
- 3Establish documented post-exposure prophylaxis pathway with serology, source testing, and reporting within two hours.
- 4
Applicable Codes of Practice
Mandates hierarchy of control for bloodborne pathogen risk.
Specifies puncture-resistant container design and disposal standards.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Sharps handling exposes workers to hepatitis B, C, and HIV via percutaneous injury.
SWMS mandatory before work; non-compliance attracts Category 2 WHS penalties.
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS template ready for site-specific completion
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation and infection-control schedule
- ✓Sharps hazard register with risk ratings and controls
- ✓Worker sign-on register for SWMS consultation evidence
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011 s19 Primary duty of care
- WHS Regulation 2025 Part 3.1 Managing risks to health and safety
- NSW Health GL2024_002 Blood and Body Substances Exposure Prevention