The dentistry world is filled with constant hazards and potential risks to practitioners and patients alike. One of the most immediate dangers in dentistry is the risk of blood-borne virus (BBV) transmission through inoculation injuries. These injuries can take the form of needle-sticks, bites or scratches from patients, or splashes to the eye with infected materials. Any of these incidents can have lasting consequences on the health of the individuals involved, and that is why dental practitioners need to take preventative measures and implement safe working systems to avoid the risks associated with inoculation injuries.

The good news is that numerous preventive measures can be taken to ensure that inoculation injuries do not occur. This course is designed to provide dental practitioners with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand and implement safe working systems to prevent the risk of blood-borne virus exposure and injury.

Participants will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to recognise and manage risk factors that can cause inoculation injuries in a dental practice.

Throughout the course, participants will be introduced to a wide range of topics that are crucial to understanding and preventing inoculation injuries.

Specifically, this course will cover topics such as preventive measures that can help to avoid inoculation injuries, strategies for dealing with the risk of infection, compliance with relevant legislation including RIDDOR, safe and effective decontamination responsibilities for the whole team, guidance for managing sharp injuries, and an understanding of the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013, as well as the requirements of employers and contractors.

Participants will also learn how to effectively manage safer sharps and receive guidance on appropriate team training to maximize safety in the dental workplace.

On completion of this course, you will gain the knowledge and tools to understand and implement safe working systems to prevent the risk of blood-borne virus exposure and injury.