Hand rub flash point?
Visiting a hospital kitchen recently, one of the few that actually cooked food rather than reheat meals bought from elsewhere it was somewhat reassuring to see hand rub dispensers were everywhere and […]
clinical waste
Protection in law
It is now 9 months or so since a Northern Ireland hospital worker who suffered a sharps injury while handling a bag of clinical waste and feared life-threatening infection will be […]
Rain floods landfilled clinical wastes
In many countries, waste disposal options revolve around open burning or landfill. Technical and economic constraints prevent further development. Over 25 years ago, I was working in Ecuador and became […]
Clinical waste bins – help for wheelchair users
We are all used to the importance of foot operated clinical waste bins that avoid handling contaminated surfaces and contact with bin contents, but what about wheelchair users? Last updated: […]
What does Sharps Injury sound like?
Several times before on the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum we have mentioned the ‘tune’ Infectious Medical Waste by the group Demolition Hammer. And now, we bring you the sound of […]
Jamaica invests in ATT processing
The Cabinet of Jamaica has approved a US$899,668 contract to Ecodas Limited for the supply and installation of medical waste equipment at the Southeast Medical Waste Treatment Facility. This new […]
European Safety Network – Prevention from Sharps Injuries toolkit
European Safety Network Toolkit for Implementation of European Directive on Prevention from Sharps Injuries (Council Directive 2010/32/EU) in Member States Last updated: Sunday, January 22, 2017
Prevention of Sharps Injuries in Healthcare information sheet
A nice new (March 2011) information sheet, Prevention of Sharps Injuries in Healthcare, from the Health and Safety Authority, Ireland, addresses many of the basic practicalities and the implications of Council Directive […]
Say that again?
Many of us have need for translation services now again. Moving beyond schooldays language lessons, it’s sometimes useful to have help, particularly for business correspondence and for scientific and technical […]
Reporting of sharps injury – will Council Directive 2010/32/EU help?
Recent reports from New Zealand and Ireland report underreporting of sharps injuries in around one third of doctors and nurses respectively. This is in accord with the many other studies […]
Sharps-related infections
We have previously discussed the wide diversity of infections that can be transmitted by sharps or needlestick injury. Last updated: Sunday, October 13, 2019
Painting with hospital waste
An artist in Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, India is making a name for herself ‘painting’ with hospital waste. Using caps from various vials and bottle caps etc, to assemble collages, this […]
UCL restructures waste classification
It is reported that UCL, in conjunction with its partner Mitie, has restructured its waste classification. In what is wrongly claimed to be an industry first – Blenkharn Environmental proposed […]
Siloxane residues in healthcare wastes
Siloxanes have quietly found their way into the revision of HTM 07 01, most likely because they are the latest bee to land in someone’s EA bonnet! Siloxanes apparently cause […]
Are there chemicals in this waste?
The clinical or sanitary/offensive waste streams are not appropriate for the disposal of waste chemicals. We know that, it’s obvious and entirely reasonable that those with chemical wastes for disposal […]
Colour-coded sack holders
Ever since the mis-guided reversal of colour coding for clinical wastes, from red/yellow/Tiger, to yellow/orange/Tiger there has been a plethora of minor publications concerning errors in waste segregation and proposing […]
Clinical waste management – Hong Kong
I discovered the excellent waste management pages of the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department a couple of years ago. We have mentioned them previously on the Clinical Waste discussion Forum […]
White Cloak Trash
White Cloak Trash – a name that is new to us, but a term used effectively by journalist Eric Ahianyo of Joy FM in Ghana to refer to clinical waste. “The cholera […]
Sales Executive – Clinical Waste
Sales Executive – Clinical Waste £25K-£30K Base, South West Job Title- Sales executive, Business Development Manager Location – South West, London Salary- £25,000-£30,000 base An opportunity has opened for a […]
Chemical composition of laboratory wastes?
Clinical wastes from laboratories in hospitals, universities and other research or manufacturing facilities may comprise a variety of hazardous materials and will usually be considered as hazardous by risk of […]
Needles discarded into recycling bins
Even a single discarded needle turning up in a recycling bin or found on a picking line can bring things to a shuddering halt. Yet more seriously, it can cause […]
Clinical waste from undertakers
Mortuaries and undertakers produce large volumes of clinical wastes. Much of this is liquid waste that would have previously been discharged to foul sewer, but with concerns about discharge of […]
Care home ‘overrun with rats’, £25k fine
It remains sadly too common that private care homes across the UK are run with appalling standards that shame our care services. Regulators are thin on the ground, but at […]
Managing incontinence waste
Managing incontinence waste is a vast problem, and predictably on for which there is generally little care. It’s a waste stream that needs to be shifted, let’s get on with […]
University installs sharps bins in toilets
The University of Iowa is to install needle-deposit bins in restrooms across its campus. Facilities Management will now foot the $9,000 bill for purchasing and installing the containers. Though dressing […]
Trying to help brings only frustration
A sobering report from Total Essex tells of a Chelmsford couple who must feel like banging their heads against the nearest availlable brick wall. Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Real penalties for waste violations?
Almost every familiy physician in the US operates independently, either as a basic GP of with some particular specialty. Many off additional surgeries from minor to quite major treatments in […]
Waste pharmaceuticals
The New England Journal of Medicine last week carries a wonderful Perspective piece (Shrank WH. Our Bulging Medicine Cabinets – the other side of medication nonadherence. N Engl J Med […]
Clinical wastes at the heart of the community?
Many nursing homes, small clinics and GP surgeries manage their clinical and other wastes in ways that would, should, cross the line toward prosecution. Those wishing to track back through […]
Clinical waste management – bringing science to the selection of contractors
In a hugely interesting paper from Taiwan, Chao Chung Ho has applied science to the selection of waste management contractors. Chao Chung Ho. Optimal evaluation of infectious medical waste disposal […]