Recycling operation halted by needle finds
A Fife recycling plant was brought to a standstill when a sharps bin was found on the picking line. Of course, that should not happen, and those involved are right to […]
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Taking work home with you?
Many waste handlers and ancillary workers inadvertently take their work home with them, on contaminated shoes and on dirty clothing. And now, it seems, so do microbiologists! Last updated: Saturday, […]
Dumping of clinical wastes
After the news item concerning alleged dumping of clinical wastes in the River Yare in Norfolk, there is news of a much more serious incident in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Community-based Environmental […]
Dem bones, dem dry bones
With echoes of that traditional spiritual song by African-American author James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) it is reported in the Wexford People that a Wexford man expresses concern over the nature […]
Radiation risks
A load of construction debris set off radiation alarms at a waste station in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Somewhat bizarrely, investigation revealed a rare find – an antique medical kit containing four capsules […]
Hospital microbiologists face measures over outbreak
For many years now hospital patients had suffered an unacceptably high incidence of serious, sometimes fatal, hospital- or healthcare-associated infections. Only now have these been brought under some degree of […]
The cost of sharps injury
The cost of a sharps injury can be great – at worst, transmission of a life-ending viral infection. However, it is important to look more generally at the cost of […]
Needlestick crime
Not for the first time, a needlestick has been the key weapon in crime. A taxi driver was injected in the neck with a syringe during a terrifying armed robbery in […]
No go for Shotts incinerator plan
After substantial delay, “North Lanarkshire Council’s decision to reject a planning application for a controversial medical waste treatment plant in Shotts could result in the loss of 120 jobs. “Last […]
Clinical waste poses serious threat to scavengers
In many parts of the world, waste tips and landfill sites are populated by scavengers who scrape a living from the salvage of reusable and recyclable items from wastes. Many […]
Cancer hospital effluents blamed for killing Sri Lankan villagers
Waste containing radioactive particles released from the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama (Cancer Hospital) were responsible for cancers among the villagers living in its vicinity, the Western Provincial Council’s Environment Ministry […]
US abandons toxic burn pits as it withdraws from Iraq and Afghanistan
As the US completes its withdrawal from Iraq and begins to draw down in Afghanistan, the American military, pursuant to what is claimed to be its “pollute and run” policy, is abandoning […]
Sharps injury prevention for hospital workers
A potentially interesting paper published recently in the International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics reports the incidence of sharps injuries in hospital staff in Turkey. Though the journal is […]
Storing waste in the hospital undercroft
Many UK hospitals store waste in a corner of the hospital car park. There are obvious advantages since access by large vehicles collecting that waste will generally be easier, though […]
“Thousands exposed to poison-spewing plant”
“The health of thousands of residents at a housing area is at risk from emissions from a bio-hazard waste incinerator plant operating practically at their doorstep. “Each day tonnes of […]
Re-use of needles
The importance of a robust and effective disposal infrastructure operating adequate regulatory oversight at every stage is exemplified by news from China where over 200 individuals have acqured Hepatitis C […]
Saving money
Difficult financial times sometimes demand difficult decisions to be made in order to save money. As the recession bites, the number of examples will become more but for now it […]
A reluctant win
Some years ago, when safety sharps were first brought to the market, I had a wager with a close friend. This predicted that, after some settling in time when users get […]
Compensation paid to council staff – needlesticks
The consequences of a sharps injury can be grave. Though the incidence of seroconversion is fortunately low there are still many transmission events of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, […]
Managing drug abuse and associated litter – Australia
Managing IV drug abuse and its associated drug litter is an almost impossible task. Requiring the involvement of many different agencies, the solutions are impossible to identify and in general […]
Dental clinic failures
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has reported that West Street Dental Practice in Congleton is not meeting the essential standard and must improve. Key failures were in cleanliness and infection […]
Hospital inspections – what is the risk of infection?
A watchdog’s inspection of the West Suffolk Hospital has found it is meeting essential standards, but has suggested some improvements are made. They found that the hospital was compliant, but […]
Manhunt after North London needle attacks
Detectives are trying to identify a man suspected of stabbing two women with a sharp implement, thought to be a needle, in north London. At 9.30am on Friday 18th November […]
Ireland cleans up another illegal dump
Lawyers representing Wicklow County Council have informed the High Court of the council’s intention to begin the clean up of a large illegal dump in West Wicklow. The dump, at […]
Novel contraption for Vietnam clinical wastes
A clinical waste incinerator built by a local farmer may not be totally efficient and pollution free but it’s churning through waste that was otherwise dangerous and time consuming to […]
Hospital closures – need for care in safe waste disposal and site clearance
Hospital closures have been a common feature over the last 10-15 years and there will be more to come in the years ahead In addition to wholesale closures, closure of […]
“Hospital incinerator contaminates patients”
A Namibian news report tells that “every morning a huge cloud of black smoke soars from the chimneys of a small corrugated iron building next to the Katutura State Hospital […]
Acknowledging adverse health effects of military burn pits
Legislation introduced in the House would require the Veterans Affairs Department to create a register for veterans who have health problems they believe are related to exposure to open-air burn […]
Norovirus risk for waste handlers
The Norovirus season will be upon us soon, and though much of the waste – mainly vomit bowls and the like – will go into the washer macerator, a great deal of […]
Illicit salvage for re-use
Reduce, reuse, recycle. It seems sensible but in many countries the reality is of illicit salvage of items from clinical wastes followed by repackaging (of sorts) and reuse, all without […]