Introduction and objective:
Needlesticks and injuries caused by sharp instruments constitute a significant occupational risk problem in the work of nurses; their number, however, is underestimated worldwide. The aim of the study is to assess the frequency and structure of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) analyse their reporting, assess availability of safety devices, and check whetherf training affects NSIs reporting and use of safety devices.

Material and methods:
In 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted with an online questionnaire among 200 nurses from the Łódź Province in Poland. The data were statistically analysed using descriptive methods. Pearson’s chi-squared test and Fisher›s exact probability test to compare the distribution of qualitative variables. The workplace, type of department, seniority and workplace location were related to the frequency of contact with potentially infectious material (PIM).

Results:
The study shows that unpredictable behaviour of a patient was the most common cause of injury, about 40% of nurses did not report NSIs, and 20.5% of nurses had never experienced NSIs. Nurses who had received infection prevention training and those who had undergone postexposure training in the past year were more likely to report NSIs. Most of the participants confirmed availability of safety devices, but the problem was that one in four nurses stated that they did not willingly use safety devices. The nurses who confirmed that training in the use of safety devices took place at work were more likely to use them. Most of the nurses had no influence on the type and quality of purchased safety devices.

Conclusions:
Emphasis should be placed on increasing NSIs reporting and the hospital management taking into account nurses' views of safety devices, which can be assisted by systematic training.