Teach, learn, improve, comply
There are several teaching aids and guides applicable to the management of healthcare wastes, mostly focussed on source segregation. Beyond posters and labels, these training aids are actually few and far […]
training
Disneyworld sharps management
Disneyworld Orlando attracts millions of visitors from the US and elsewhere. With other Disneyworld outlets it is a major global brand and must accept that some of its visitors will […]
ISC waste woes
Clinical wastes and indeed just about all other waste streams are managed poorly right across the Indian sub-continent. A good friend living and working in Goa tells tales of almost […]
More landfill discoveries
Alongside the revelation of radioactive wastes of hospital origin having been deposited in N Ireland landfill, and the many incidents and irregularities in clinical waste disposal South of the border, […]
Which is the best sharps safety glove?
The Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), established in Québec since 1980, is a scientific research organization well-known for the quality of its work […]
12th international sharps injury prevention awareness month
The 12th annual international sharps injury prevention awareness month takes place in December. The sharps injury awareness campaign is designed to provide information to healthcare workers, waste management workers, and […]
Ireland hospital found in breach of hygiene standards
Perhaps not surprisingly, another Ireland hospital has been found in breach of hygiene standards, and clinical waste mismanagement features in the list of failures. Presently, Ireland is in the middle […]
Lifesaver syringe: useful or not?
A Huddersfield designer has developed a ‘Lifesaver’ syringe that changes colour to deep red within a minute of removal from its sterile wrapper, to warn that it is not sterile […]
How much handwashing?
Those in the commercial sector who provide clinical waste and related waste management services, and those in the healthcare sector responsible for ancillary and support staff, whether directly employed or as […]
Wrexham Maelor Hospital patient finds discarded needle in NHS chair
A patient at Wrexham Maelor Hospital is understandably is furious after he found a used needle and syringe down the back of a chair as he down. It just gets worse. […]
Health Service Executive sued in action by needlestuck porter
A hospital porter who was pricked by a used syringe at University Hospital Limerick was unable to enjoy “the privileges of marriage” for a year after the incident, his barrister […]
Handheld data terminal hygiene
Most, perhaps almost all, clinical waste companies are using handheld data terminals to record customer collections. These devices have many advantages, but what about hygiene? Data terminals may be carried in a […]
Jump in sharps injury rate in Ireland
“Last year saw the highest number of needlestick or sharps injuries among hospital doctors in at least five years, internal HSE Ireland figures show. “In 2009, the HSE recorded 102 […]
‘Hot Tubbing’ (Concurrent Expert Evidence) training
Ian has attended the Bond Solon June 2013 ‘Hot Tubbing’ (Concurrent Expert Evidence) training day. Last updated: Thursday, June 20, 2013
Patient confidentiality & recycling
The NHS is going green, slightly, in small, slow steps, but it IS going green. Many items are reused when it is safe to do so, with expensive disposables side lined […]
HIV infection after sharps injury
There has been an increasing tendency in recent years to downplay the risks of acquiring bloodborne virus infection. Statistics are quoted, showing that in general the risks of acquiring a bloodborne […]
Hospital hotels?
The press are today full of comment about hospital hotels, a new – at least new to the UK – initiative to use hotels as a half-way house for patients […]
Scandal of dumped Harley Street clinical waste
“London’s Evening Standard reports that medical (clinical) waste including syringes, blood-filled tubes and pig snouts is being dumped on the pavement by Harley Street firms. “Westminster council today issued a […]
Safer sharps – are they protecting against sharps injury?
As the archive files of the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum will attest, several years before the start of the move toward introduction of engineered safety sharps I took a sceptical […]
Sponsored sharps bins?
The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is offering grants in the form of sharps waste containers and/or kiosks, which CalRecycle will purchase and distribute to Approved California Local Jurisdictions (Approved […]
The Safer Sharps EU Directive – NHS Supply Chain regional events
NHS Supply Chain is running 8 regional events across the UK, 7 events for NHS staff and one event non-NHS staff. These days are being split into two, with the […]
Why so much paper?
Many sacks of clinical waste contain substantial amounts of paper waste. Some of it is secondary wrappings from sterile items and I have not problem with that, since separation is […]
HSE finds potential for improvement by councils
Many councils are not managing safety effectively, for waste collections and the staff involved, and more generally. Nearly one fifth of local authorities are not following important health and safety […]
Improving clinical waste disposal practice
How do we improve clinical waste disposal practice? The answer to this question is not so easy. There is the hugely bloated HTM 07-01 that seeks to instruct but not inform, […]
The statistics of fatal accident prevention
A recent announcement from HSE records nine deaths involving the UK waste and recycling industry since June 15, 2012. That is an appalling statistic, and HSE are sending “warnings” to the […]
Glove use – getting it right
News today of a Manchester fireman has been handed a £5,000 payout after injuring himself putting on gloves at work! Bosses at Greater Manchester Fire Service (GMFS) accepted the glove […]
South coast bin men face needles in black sacks
Two binmen from West Sussex are facing a risk of infection and months of blood tests after being accidentally pricked by hypodermic needles. The needles had been left incorrectly in […]
Safe disposal of medications and sharps in the home setting
The US FDA is hosting a webinar “Safe Disposal of Medications and Sharps in the Home Setting” on August 23, 2012 at 13:00-14:00 eastern time. The webinar is part of […]
Hiring temporary staff (clinical waste)
The current vacancy for a part-time clinical waste handler/roundsman in west London raises two interesting questions. The advertisement specifies: “In order to be considered for this role it is essential you have been inoculated […]
Managing Norovirus waste
Norovirus outbreaks continue to be a major seasonal problem and cause huge disruption to care services with substantial morbidity and mortality. What to do with Norovirus waste? Much waste will be destined for the toilet […]