Monkeypox virus transmission by sharps injury
Researchers from Brazil describe the clinical features of monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection in a 20-year-old nurse after a needlestick injury she sustained on July 9, 2022. The nurse was collecting […]
health and safety
Myanmar’s illegal trade in medical waste poses massive infection risk
Myanmar Now investigation finds waste collectors selling used syringes and intravenous drips to be made into household goods. Two garbage disposal workers spent half an hour rummaging through mounds of […]
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 […]
Businessman caught running £2.6m illegal waste racket
A wealthy businessman was caught running a £2.6million illegal waste racket where he buried toxic rubbish underground next to his Grade II-listed mansion. Homeowner Howard Rees, 65, and 53-year-old accomplice […]
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 […]
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 […]
Investigation after shipping container with used medical waste left unlocked
Stepping Hill Hospital bosses are investigating after an outdoor shipping container filled with used medical waste was left unlocked in the hospital grounds. Images sent to the Manchester Evening News show […]
Uncollected clinical waste in Calderdale, or is it?
Uncollected clinical waste in Calderdale ‘causing health and safety issues’ The COVID-19 pandemic has affected waste services of all kinds, but health and safety issues arise if clinical waste is not […]
Clinical Waste Operative
General operatives required for clinical waste recycling plant, Schotts. No manual handling Disposal of pre-segregated hospital waste products Adherence to high standards of hygiene essential. Hours of work: 4 on 4 […]
Could Covid-19 clinical waste help slash Birmingham’s emissions?
Veolia’s energy recovery facility in Tyseley, Birmingham, will soon use waste from a massive NHS Test and Trace laboratory to produce green energy for the city. The resource management company has been […]
Blaze at Bellshill medical waste plant
Staff have been evacuated after a fire broke out at a plant which processes medical waste in North Lanarkshire. Firefighters were called to the site run by Tradebe Healthcare on […]
Discarded face masks are everywhere
Characterization of littered face masks in the southeastern part of Turkey. Akarsu C, Madenli Ö, Deveci EÜ. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Apr 24. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-14099-8. Occurrence of personal […]
Safe distance-based vehicle routing: medical/clinical waste
Safe Distance-Based Vehicle Routing Problem: Medical Waste Collection Case Study in COVID-19 Pandemic. Eren E, Rıfat Tuzkaya U. Comput Ind Eng. 2021 Apr 16:107328. doi: 10.1016/j.cie.2021.107328. Last updated: Thursday, April […]
Covid-19 infection among waste handlers
A waste centre has been blasted for a catalogue of Covid failures after a binman based there died of the virus. Mr Scott Hunter, 52, died last month after an 18-day battle at […]
e-learning programme launched
Stericycle have successfully launch a new e-learning programme for the healthcare sector, which is one of the first of its kind for the UK healthcare sector. The course is also […]
Government needs to urgently vaccinate waste operatives says waste management company
On the same theme as previous threads relating to Covid-19 infection responsible for the tragic death of two hospital porters, and claims of segregation and waste management deficiencies at vaccination […]
Staff absence forces company to make alternative arrangements for clinical waste collections from vaccination centres
A waste management company has been forced to make alternative arrangements for 15% of collections in London and South East England in the last week after ‘record numbers’ of drivers […]
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 […]
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 […]
NHS Waste Operative job
New post available now for a clinical waste porter or, if you really want, an Operative! £9.45 per hour Sunderland, Tyne And Wear Temporary, full-time or part-time Duties and Responsibilities […]
Covid-19 – Which hospital staff are important just now?
Physicians, anaesthetists, nurses? Perhaps surgeons, pharmacists, laboratory staff, radiologists and physiotherapists? They are all important and without them the service would crumble. So, which others are important just now, and […]
Hospital porter tests positive for coronavirus
A porter employed at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, has tested positive for coronavirus and is no self-isolating. More than 20 of his colleagues have also had to self-isolate as […]
UK waste incinerators 3x as likely to be in deprived areas
Waste incinerators are three times as likely to be situated in the most deprived and ethnically diverse areas of the UK, it has been revealed, raising fears about the impact […]
Covid-19 PPE waste from home healthcare delivery
At long last, the Environment Agency have issued revised guidance on the management of PPE from home healthcare workers treating patients with COVID-19 infection. Too little, too late is something […]
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 […]
Environment Agency RPS updates
Environment Agency RPS updates: The latest regulatory position statement updates from the Environment Agency. Monitoring emissions from some environmental permitting activities: RPS C7 Emissions to air from Large Combustion Plant in […]
Europol warns of raids on hospital waste to sell used coronavirus masks
Criminals raiding hospital waste to sell used coronavirus masks on the blackmarket is a major threat in Europe, a new report Europol has revealed. Europol says there has been a […]
DEFRA in COVID-19 contingency talks with waste sector
DEFRA is in talks with the waste industry and local authorities about ensuring collection and disposal services continue to operate as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the UK, […]