Handling Biohazard Medical Waste and Dangerous Sharps

Environment Services

 Sharps or other hazardous waste materials are commonly found in containers or garbage receptacles at healthcare clinics, doctor's offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. And, as custodial managers, we must ensure that all custodial workers are properly prepared to handle them—both for their safety and the protection of those around them.


Sharps can pierce or penetrate the skin, such as needles and syringes, scalpels, scissors, forceps, and other tools that can cut, rub, or puncture. Being poked by a sharp not only exposes workers to drugs and other needle contents, but also puts them at risk of contracting a disease caused by a bloodborne pathogen, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus. Although emptying trash appears to be a simple operation, it can turn dangerous when a staff member gets stabbed by a needle or other sharp concealed amid the waste. There are various strategies to protect your employees.

1- To Combat Complacency
Staff at healthcare facilities are reminded at least once a year of their duties for the proper disposal of sharps and hazardous waste. Still, there have been countless incidents of needles and blood-soaked things being discovered in conventional garbage cans, resulting in significant injuries, stuck, pricked, or unintentional self-inoculation. Common causes of these occurrences include failing to recap sharps and incorrect disposal.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates that all sharps and risks be disposed of promptly and properly in a red or yellow sharps disposal container. The containers must be labeled as biohazard medical waste, including the biohazard symbol and wording. Once filled, these containers cannot be recycled. Disposal techniques in the United States vary by state, including supervised collection locations, mail-back programs, and sharps pickup services.

2- Avoid Lethargy
Sharps disposal is a problem in more places than just hospitals. Restroom users who use sharps to treat diabetes may dispose of discarded needles in a standard trash can. Custodians in all sorts of buildings may grow so used to their daily routines that they fail to look for hazards while cleaning or dealing with waste. Every caretaker must be aware of this potential and take the following preventative measures:
  • Do not discard hands, feet, or elbows.
  • If required, condense waste with another trash container or a hard barrier.
  • Use a cart to transport rubbish to dumpsters. At the absolute least, the caretaker should keep the garbage receptacle away from his or her body to avoid needle sticks or cuts.
3- Maintain Vigilance In All Settings
We must not forget that people take medications at home or on the road for a variety of diseases, including diabetes, migraines, cancer, and HIV. Injected drugs can be quite safe, such as vitamin K, or extremely dangerous, such as radioactive materials. Where do the needles go? What about other sharps waste, such as lancets or glucose meters? With that in mind, housekeeping staff may come across these in locations such as hotel room trash cans or apartment trash cans in retirement homes.

There are few places for homeowners to dispose of these high-risk goods appropriately. Local and state governments may have a say in how sharps are disposed of, such as through drop boxes or supervised collection points. These restrictions can be burdensome for many people who do not take the time to educate and research their disposal alternatives, or who become confused by conflicting directions. The situation is more complicated in rural locations, where there are no community-based disposal choices.

Cleaners should exercise caution in all environments and recognize that sharps may end up in routine waste. Sharps may also be found on kitchen countertops, bathroom surfaces, and even clothing hampers. When cleaning, always wear disposable gloves and avoid putting your hands on any surface or cabinet without first examining them. Regardless of the environment, be cautious when emptying trash and completing other basic cleaning and maintenance tasks. It might mean the difference between life and death.

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