Two hospital porters die of Covid-19 infection
The BBC report that a second hospital porter has sadly died from Covid-19 infection, the second Royal Stoke Hospital porter to die. Of course, this is terribly sad. Perhaps predictably […]
hazard
Stericycle settles with EPA on emissions accusation
Stericycle Inc. has reached a settlement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cleansing and PPE waste at a healthcare waste management facility: RPS C1
This COVID-19 regulatory position statement (RPS) applies to: waste from cleaning people or places infected, or potentially infected, with coronavirus (COVID-19) separately collected personal protective equipment (PPE) waste, for example […]
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 […]
PHE issues Coronavirus waste disposal advice
In light of the global coronavirus outbreak, Public Health England has issued advice to the public on how to deal with potentially infectious waste. Public Health England recommends all waste […]
Covid-19 coronavirus precautions?
The world is on alert because of the latest Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic that is spreading globally from its origins in Wuhan, China. The UK response has, it would appear, been […]
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 […]
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. […]
Clinical waste and needles dumped along Humber
A concerned lady says she is disgusted after seeing the amount of waste dumped along the Humber, which included “used tattoo needles”. She took the shocking images (below), which show […]
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 […]
Waste exports to Sri Lanka?
It is claimed that human remains have been found in 100 containers of exported recycling sent from UK to Sri Lanka. The British government – the Environment Agency – has […]
Healthcare regulators seek clinical waste issues
As we have noted before on the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum, healthcare regulators the CQC and its Scottish equivalent frequently record issues with clinical and sharps waste handling, transport, and […]
Clinical waste bins left outside Crosshouse Hospital
After HES Ltd, it seems that the Press are working hard to keep everyone on their toes. Finding wastes stored inappropriately at this Scottish hospital is causing red faces and, […]
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 […]
Carer slams plans to change waste collections in Sheffield
Well, it’s spreading among Local Authorities who are presumably cash poor and struggling to balance their books. After news of ‘threats’ to charge for domiciliary clinical waste collections when local […]
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 […]
Stericycle losing business?
A broken strap is believed to have a caused a Stericycle clinical (medical) waste spill on a road in Pennsylvania on Thursday. It happened around 1pm Thursday afternoon. What a mess! Apparently, a […]
Gloves for hospital porters
Following up on a recent “expose” in which hospital porters were said to be handling clinical wastes without gloves – or were they – is another and more detailed report, […]
Unsafe waste handling in hospitals
Though we never hesitate to call out bad practice in waste handling across the commercial sector, those tasked with clinical waste management within healthcare establishments too often slip under the […]
Hospital porters injured handling clinical waste
Four porters at Inverness’ Raigmore Hospital were injured carrying out work involving clinical waste, the GMB union has said. The union has submitted a collective grievance to NHS Highland about the […]
Shock! Horror! New pictures ‘lay bare scale of NHS body parts scandal’
In a display of remarkable journalistic hyperbole, today’s Daily Mail screams “Shocking new pictures lay bare scale of NHS body parts scandal: Inside waste disposal firm facing criminal probe after […]
Used needles ‘overflowing onto floor’ in public toilet
Secure sharps bins in public and other toilets have become rather common in the last 5-10 years, though there is still much indignation and complaint from the moral majority who […]
But isn’t that their job?
An ‘outcry’ has erupted over the disposal of hazardous waste as untrained NHS staff are ordered to deal with ‘clinical rubbish’ So screams the latest Daily Record headline. “Hundreds of staff […]
Catalogue of injuries for NHS Tayside staff
Health workers in Tayside are injured by patients in their care on a more than daily basis, figures have shown. Staff have been subjected to acts of aggressive behaviour or disclosed […]
Ten North-East health trusts hit by halt in clinical waste collections
SEVERAL NHS trusts in the North-East have had their clinical waste collections stopped after a scandal-hit contractor ran into difficulties. Hospitals run by ten NHS trusts in the region have been […]