NHS ‘care hotels’ spark hygiene and safety concerns
Recent pressures on NHS bed space secondary to high admission rates of COVID-19 patients have resulted in the establishment of several ‘care hotels’ intended to relieve pressure on bed space […]
danger
Needlesmart Partnership aims to reduce 100,000 needlestick injuries to NHS employees
In a 2003 survey, it was reported that a staggering 94 per cent of practising surgeons in the UK have either been personally affected by a needlestick injury (NSI) or […]
Major fire at Indian clinical waste plant
A major fire broke out at IMAGE, the bio-medical waste management plant of Indian Medical Association Kerala, at Kanjikode on Sunday. The fire was detected at noon and fire force […]
Needle decap/recap, with a sting in the tail?
A new product from a Canadian company claims safely to facilitate decapping of hypodermic needles, if you really need a device to do that. Removing a needle cap is after […]
Protecting our environment
The last year or two have been noticeable for the clamour of voices protesting, in most cases not inappropriately, about the precarious state of the global environment. After protests and […]
Sharps injury hazard for pregnant farm workers
Women can do any job on the farm or ranch, but when they’re expecting a baby or planning to become pregnant, it’s wise to take additional safety measures or avoid […]
Clinical waste dumped illegally
Dumping of clinical wastes should be a thing of the past, but not so. In the last 24 hours, reports have come to light of : A container of ‘contaminated […]
Is Bellshill Industrial Estate the best place for a clinical waste plant?
Is Bellshill Industrial Estate the best place for a clinical/medical waste plant that went on fire? A councillor has written to the Scottish Government in a quest to effect the […]
Illegal human placenta trade in China using medical waste, funeral homes
The black market for human placentas is thriving in China, despite the banning of the practice more than a decade ago, an investigative report has found. People who buy fresh […]
Hundreds of discarded hypodermic needles reported across Dundee and Angus
Hundreds of used needles are being found by shocked locals in Dundee and Angus every year as drug-related anti-social behaviour leaves residents living in fear. Data shows around 95% of the […]
RCN asks members for experience of sharps and needlestick injuries
The Royal College of Nursing is today launching a survey of members to gather information on their experience of sharps injuries at work. Sharps injuries, from instruments such as needles […]
Another healthcare waste-related fatality
Injuries involving healthcare wastes are fortunately uncommon but when they do occur they can be disastrous. Sharos injury and infections top the list but here is one that is, I […]
Defra issues advice to the waste sector because of coronavirus and their household waste
COVID-19 is a huge problem, and that includes a problem for those involved in waste management. In the last 2 days, Defra has issued advice to the waste sector and […]
Wuhan novel coronavirus (WN-CoV) precautions
Public Health England’s (PHE) advice to primary care services on Wuhan novel coronavirus (WN-CoV) has been updated with guidance on environmental cleaning following a possible case. Whether that will work, […]
Helicopter slices roof off truck carrying hospital wastes
A police helicopter preparing to take off from a road in a Brazilian city was seriously damaged, and two of its occupants were injured, when a passing lorry came too […]
‘Bodies in bins’ detector
World’s first ‘human detector’ to protect homeless people sleeping in bins launched A waste management company has developed a device to help protect homeless people who seek shelter inside industrial […]
Cumbria Crack reports major sharps bin dumping
An investigation has been launched following the discovery of clinical waste dumped on a roadside near Kendal. A member of the public reported seeing a number of black bin bags that […]
Leeds is England’s fly tipping capital with dead animals and medical waste dumped
Stand aside Birmingham, Leeds is England’s fly tipping capital with dead animals and medical waste dumped. Leeds is the country’s fly-tipping capital – with more illegally dumped rubbish than anywhere […]
Fly tipping never been worse in Birmingham – more rubbish than ever dumped
Fly tipping has never been worse in Birmingham as more rubbish than ever dumped. Figures published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reveal there were 17,575 incidents […]
HIV outbreak, Pakistan, tops 1,100 cases
Nearly 900 children under 12 are among 1112 cases of HIV infection now confirmed in an outbreak linked to a paediatrician in Ratodero, Pakistan, who reused syringes and IV drips. […]
Sharps injury risk in jails
Staff infected by dirty needles in drug-ridden jails have won £734,000 in payouts in last 3 years. The settlements, including legal costs, were made to as few as nine people, […]
Body parts remain in abandoned warehouse after a year
Healthcare Environmental Services in Longbenton, North Tyneside, built up stockpiles of body parts and other medical waste and was ordered to dispose of the stored material. It went into liquidation […]
New figures show drop in waste sector fatalities
Provisional figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show fatalities in the waste sector has dropped below the yearly average. There were seven fatalities in the waste and […]
Waste sector risks
Baling machines, shredders and the like present a significant risk of serious injury to workers in the waste sector. In Thailand, a worker using a baling machine to compress plastic […]
Stop Sticks campaign
The US CDC has updated its Stop Sticks campaign page. Though addressing sharps injury in the healthcare environment in particular the information presented addresses all such interests. It is worthy of […]
Disposal of explanted pacemakers
The following may provide some positive solutions for the disposal/reuse explanted pacemakers: https://www.pace4life.org/donating-pacemakers http://www.iccm-uk.com/iccm/library/ICCM%20Recycling%20of%20Pacemakers%20Scheme%20Newsletter%20Final.pdf Last updated: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Sharps and Overdose Awareness training
A valuable Sharps and Overdose Awareness training session coming up, Manchester on 22 July. And it’s free! About this Event What is a sharp and what injuries can they cause? The […]
Scots hospitals risk cross-contamination transporting clinical waste in same trolleys as sterile equipment
Hazardous clinical waste is being transported in the same hospital trolleys as sterile medical equipment — sparking fears of lethal cross-contamination. A whistleblower raised serious safety concerns after claiming roll […]
Pensioners “plagued by vermin from abandoned HES Ltd plant”
A furious pensioner has told how her home is now plagued by rats and putrid pongs from an abandoned medical waste depot. The lady revealed vermin have overrun her garden since […]
Call for extra funds for waste management issues
Health chiefs are being urged to plough more resources into Renfrewshire’s main hospital after inspectors uncovered a string of hygiene failures. Concerns have been raised that extra investment is needed to […]