Sharps Safety Regulations — ORE Part 1 MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateBehavioural Sciences & EthicsSharps Safety RegulationsORE Part 1

A dental practice manager is reviewing arrangements for staff who use local anaesthetic needles and other medical sharps. Where use of a sharp cannot reasonably be avoided, which measure is required by the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Use safer sharps where reasonably practicable

Explanation lettering: C = shown as B · E = shown as C · B = shown as D · D = shown as E

A is correct. When a medical sharp cannot reasonably be avoided, Regulation 5 requires use of safer sharps, incorporating a mechanism that prevents or minimises accidental injury, so far as reasonably practicable. SDCEP gives the same dental-practice advice. Sharps containers are also required close to the work area, with disposal instructions, but option C is wrong because a bin in every room is neither the statutory wording nor an adequate standalone control. Immunisation is relevant to blood-borne-virus risk, particularly hepatitis B where indicated, not universal tetanus vaccination. Blunt needles cannot replace needles for all injections, and complete elimination of sharps is unrealistic; the duty is to avoid unnecessary use and then reduce risk through safer devices and systems of work.

Reference: Health and Safety Executive, Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013: A guide for employers and employees (HSIS7), 2013, section “Use safer sharps (incorporating protection mechanisms) – regulation 5(1)(b)”: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsis7.pdf