The present study analyzed the accidents happened at work with the nursing staff of a public hospital, provoked by sharp instruments. All the nursing staff composed the study population. In the collection of data two instruments were used: a questionnaire designed to collect data referring to all working accidents that happened in the year of 1996; the second was an interview accomplished with these workers that suffered accidents with sharp instruments. The results showed that the nursing staff health is under risk with sharp instruments is involved in the accidents. For these accidents, the greater risk coefficients were for nursing auxiliary. High subnotification was verified for those accidents. The relative results of the interaction of the nursing staff working with sharp instruments indicate the great exposure to the biological risks and the serious diseases.
Nursing; Occupational health; Accidents, occupational
