I have had a number of enquiries from dental nurses in practice regarding the re-sheathing of dental needles and the disposal of used sharps. Are there any written guidelines that specify the ‘right’ procedure or is it a local rule for the individual practice? I would be grateful for any advice on this matter.

Daniel McAlonan, Senior Health & Safety Adviser at the BDA, responds: Below is a link for the HPA guidance on the use of needles and disposal. There are local rules for each practice but we would support the stance that ‘if you use - you dispose of it’. Needles must be re-sheathed by the operator using the re-sheathing device and in line with the training provided. Needles, scalpel blades, LA cartridges, burs, matrix bands etc must be disposed of in the yellow sharps container, which should be near the point of use and not placed on the floor. The container must never be more than two-thirds full.

http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebPrinterFriendly/HPAweb_C/1195733815952?p=1191942146594