An interesting magnetic needle retriever developed by Advanced Medical Innovations.

Though intended to pick dropped needles and scalpel blades from the floor of the operating theatre, I wonder is a magnet would be useful to manage spillages occurring from a dropped sharps bin. The retrieval of sharps after dislodgement of a sharps bin lid, or worse the detachment of the clamshell halves might be eased using a device such as this.

And why not a magnet option for litter pickers prying discarded needles from awkward spaces? This would necessitate an additional manoeuvre to remove the needle from the magnet, but this might be accomplished by an outer plastic, non-magnetic sheath acting as a pusher when the device is held over a sharps bin. The advantage may be considerable.

Remember, you heard it first on the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum.