From: Ian blenkharn@ianblenkharn.com
Category: Miscellaneous
Date: 16 Feb 2008
Time: 15:03:54 +0100
Remote Name: 86.134.111.185
Thanks for your comments.
It is important to we all listen to the widest range of opinion. Every one counts, particularly when discussing controversial issues or new developments and those comments are always most welcome on the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum.
Actually, I find your views about the resistance to change rather sad but that apart, I do believe that the new range of containers for soft wastes represent a step in the right direction, if not the final solution to a real problem.
The laboratory environment in particular, and many clinical areas where floor space is at a premium but wall or bench space is available may benefit from these containers. Ambulances may benefit as the risk of slips and falls from a traditional waste sack lying on the floor is removed completely.
I have suspected for some years that there must be some advantage to automated handling or formal containerisation of filled waste containers to reduce the extent of manual handling and the constant risk of personal contamination or sharps injury to ancillary staff and waste handlers. Semi-rigid containers such as these have much to offer and may prevent some of the injuries to support staff that result from the careless segregation and errors in disposal by healthcare staff.
Some further development is necessary, and for this the expertise of the packaging industries will be invaluable to move forward from the ubiquitous plastic sack. It may be that no one type of container is ideal for all applications, though at present the range of plastic sacks in several different colour code combinations, and the range of rigid containers in many sizes and shapes, with different apertures and lid fittings for a range of applications, and of course different colours to identify their contents, have been accepted by the NHS and others over many years. Waste management is a complex undertaking that is often undervalued and misunderstood.
My own belief is that there is much room for further improvement and the elimination of error, through education and enforcement, and by product design.
Ian
see also New containers for clinical wastes - paper box replaces sack
First posted 08-Feb-2008