A comprehensive sharps disposal procedure is critical to ensuring a safe work environment. appropriate sharps and needle disposal management reduces the danger of unintended sharps injuries and makes appropriate disposal easier and better for the environment. Without a well-functioning sharps and syringe disposal program, healthcare companies may unwittingly endanger patients, staff, and the surrounding community—while also failing to meet industry compliance standards.
Before deciding how to improve sharps disposal at your business, you should first understand your firm's specific goals and examine the existing sharps waste management mechanisms in place. Examine the following four questions when reflecting on your present waste management initiatives and goals.
What types of sharps are staff throwing away?
How many sharps disposal areas are needed?
How quickly does sharp waste accumulate?
What regulations apply to the facility?
Are Reusable Sharps Containers Suitable for Your Organization?
Reusable sharps containers can help to lessen the environmental impact of sharps waste. This method avoids the need to manufacture new sharps containers while also conserving natural resources. For example, at Stericycle, our reusable sharps containers can reduce the quantity of treated medical waste transported to landfills by up to 30%. Before implementing reusable sharps containers in your business, you should first determine whether this method aligns with your facility's present goals, which include sustainability and carbon footprint reduction efforts, as well as budgetary considerations.
To avoid unintended injury and to comply with OSHA, organizations should change sharps receptacles before they become full. This involves determining how long sharps waste can sit in a container before it needs to be handled. Most states require that the sharps container be filled to the fill line before the clock begins, and it must then be properly disposed of within the time limits set by the state. Establishing a proactive policy that assures a consistent needle disposal process based on your state's specific standards, including container cleaning and proactive exchange, is critical.
Risks of Improper Sharps Disposal
Sharps dumped in regular trash pose a public and environmental safety issue, as well as an increased chance of needlestick injuries. Not only might the person handling the sharp be harmed, but so could anyone gathering trash who comes into contact with an exposed needle. When a contaminated sharp enters the skin, there is a risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission—infectious germs in human blood that can cause disease. In some situations, this transmission can result in serious infections, such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV.
According to a survey of organizations, 52% of those who believe toilet sharps programs are vital to cite workplace health, employee safety, and regulatory compliance as main motivations for program adoption.
Is Your Sharps Waste Tracked?
There are several federal, state, and municipal regulations that control sharps disposal and processing. Visibility into waste tracking can considerably aid your organization's compliance. Because Trihaz employs a bar-coded labeling system, it can electronically trace all sharps waste containers, allowing you to monitor sharps disposal from beginning to end and simply demonstrate compliance with applicable rules.
When it comes to effective sharps disposal and waste management compliance, it is critical to evaluate your organization's present processes and identify its top strengths and shortcomings. Working with a competent and experienced waste disposal partner like Trihaz Solutions may help your organization overcome existing sharps waste disposal difficulties, improve safety and compliance, and allow staff to focus on its main mission—providing patient care.
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