Reading List

A curated Reading List to support and extend learning from Sharps Safety for Dental Nurses.

Sharps Regulations, Reporting and Waste

• HSE - Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013
  Guidance for employers and employees on legal duties, safe use and disposal of sharps, training, and procedures after injury.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsis7.htm

• HSE - Managing the risk of needlestick or sharps injuries
  Practical advice on risk assessment, selecting safer devices, prevention measures, and steps to take after a needlestick or sharps injury.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/needlesticks/actions.htm

• HSE - Incident reporting for blood-borne viruses
  Explains when occupational exposures to blood-borne viruses must be reported under RIDDOR in Great Britain.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/blood-borne-viruses/incident-reporting.htm

• HSENI - Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences in health and social care
  Northern Ireland guidance on RIDDOR reporting in health and social care, with examples that include sharps injuries.
  https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/reporting-injuries-diseases-and-dangerous-occurrences-health-and-social-care

• Department of Health NI - Sharp Instruments in Healthcare Regulations
  Northern Ireland publication page for the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013.
  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/health-and-safety-sharp-instruments-healthcare-regulations-northern-ireland-2013

• NHS England - HTM 07-01: safe and sustainable management of healthcare waste
  Current guidance on segregation, handling, and disposal of dental sharps and other healthcare waste.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/management-and-disposal-of-healthcare-waste-htm-07-01/

Blood-Borne Viruses, Immunisation and Exposure

• NHS England - National IPC Manual: Standard infection control precautions
  Chapter on standard precautions covering risk assessment, PPE, managing exposures to blood and body fluids, and equipment and environmental safety.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/chapter-1-standard-infection-control-precautions-sicps/

• GOV.UK - Hepatitis B: the Green Book chapter 18
  UK immunisation guidance, including hepatitis B vaccination recommendations and identified risk groups such as healthcare workers.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hepatitis-b-the-green-book-chapter-18

• GOV.UK - Blood-borne viruses in healthcare workers
  Collection of guidance on occupational risk from blood-borne viruses, exposure-prone procedures, and requirements for health clearance and follow-up.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bloodborne-viruses-bbvs-in-healthcare-workers

• BHIVA/BASHH - HIV post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines
  UK clinical guideline for assessing and managing HIV post-exposure prophylaxis after occupational and other exposures.
  https://bhiva.org/clinical-guideline/pep-guidelines/

Dental Professional Standards

• GDC - Standards for the Dental Team
  Core standards covering patient safety, professional behaviour, communication, and managing risk within the dental team.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/standards-for-the-dental-team

• GDC - Scope of Practice
  Guidance on the duties and limits of practice for dental nurses, including additional skills, supervision and indemnity considerations.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/scope-of-practice

• GDC - Safe Practitioner: Dental Nurse
  Framework describing expectations for dental nurses on professionalism, communication, patient safety and teamwork.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/about-us/safe-practitioner/safe-practitioner--dental-nurse.pdf?sfvrsn=bae145a5_4