A meeting of European Union (EU) officials in Brussels has reached agreement about providing additional safeguards to medical workers.

European Council members have drawn up a new directive aimed at ensuring healthcare staff are not placed at risk from injuries and infections as a result of contact with needles and other sharp instruments.

The legislation provides a framework agreement from the European social partners in the hospital and healthcare sector and related unions with legal effect and will ensure risk prevention becomes more integrated to reduce workers' exposure to injuries.

Those in healthcare jobs in Europe will be provided with additional protection under the proposal emerging from the employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs meeting on March 8th and member states must transpose the new directive into national law within the next three years.

In the US, those seeking healthcare job vacancies could benefit from the passage of the health reform bill through the House of Representatives.