Mrs Shiree Faulkner1
1Bupa Dental Care, Darwin, Australia
Biography:
Shiree Faulkner is The Consultant Dental Assistant and IPC Lead for Bupa Dental Care and based in Darwin. She leads national initiatives focused on sterilisation, sharps safety, and AS 5369:2023 implementation. Her work supports dental teams through practical education, improving compliance, staff safety, and infection prevention practices across clinical settings.
Abstract:
Sharps injuries remain a significant occupational risk in all dental practices, particularly during instrument reprocessing within sterilisation areas. Compliance with heavy-duty utility gloves is often limited due to reduced dexterity, poor fit and IPC workflows, and usability challenges, resulting in inconsistent use during high-risk tasks.
To address this issue, a multi-site quality improvement project was conducted across our Bupa dental practices. Four new puncture-resistant glove types were trialled and evaluated using structured staff feedback and observational insights. Assessment criteria included comfort, fit, dexterity, and workflow integration within sterilisation processes.
One glove type, Pro-Val Nitril Blax HD, was identified as the preferred option and implemented more broadly across our network. Following implementation, staff reported increased comfort, improved tactile sensitivity, and greater willingness to wear gloves consistently throughout instrument handling tasks.
Sharps injury data over a 12-month period demonstrated an overall downward trend, particularly within sterilisation environments.
Optimising glove selection to balance protection and usability can significantly improve compliance with personal protective equipment and reduce sharps injury risk. This project highlights the importance of practical, user-focused solutions in strengthening infection prevention and control practices, improving staff safety, and supporting sustainable behaviour change in dental settings.