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 […]
infection
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 […]
Let’s spread a rumour??
The majority of waste bins across the UK contain dangerous used PPE and ‘could put lives at risk’. That’s the suggestion from clinical waste collection company BusinessWaste, which suggests up […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
NHS pays compensation to 1,200 staff after needlestick
More than 1,200 NHS staff have won compensation after being injured by needles potentially infected with HIV or hepatitis over the past six years. Official figures reveal an “unacceptable” picture […]
Used needles found dumped in Cornish towns
A warning has gone out to parents after a used needles were found dumped in two Cornish towns. One was found on the path on Tower Road in Newquay on […]
Girl finds dirty needles in Worthing park
A four-year-old girl stumbled across a pile of syringes, vials and other drug paraphernalia while playing hide and seek in Tarring Park. Her Mum said she was playing with her […]
US study sheds light on needlestick injuries at MRFs
The hazards of needles to MRF sorters are well recognized, but new research puts an estimate to just how many workers are injured by them each year. In a survey, […]
Clinical waste to dump, then back to wards!
Lagos, Nigeria, isn’t the place where one might expect the highest standards of hygiene and infection prevention, or of probity. So it is perhaps no surprise to read this piece […]
Street cleaners find human organs in garbage bin
Street cleaners in a northeastern Egyptian city found a medical waste bag in a garbage bin filled with human liver, other organs, and surgical instruments. Mahmoud, a cleaner, said he […]
Man died 20 years after prick from infected needle
A man with a learning disability who contracted Hepatitis B from a dirty needle while gardening died due to the virus twenty years later. Dermot Redmond (53) from Walkinstown Road […]
Discarded needles won’t “jump out and bite you”
In a comment that perhaps rates as the most arrogant and ill-advised comment ever made regarding sharps safety, health ‘officials’ are urging Londoners to become more educated about discarded needles […]
Pilfering from clinical wastes
A US nurse admitted in court pilfering from clinical wastes to obtain drugs apparently ‘to aid in suicide attempts at her home’, but denied using those drugs and/or the syringes […]
NHS buys mobile needle exchange for addicts amid HIV ‘outbreak’
The NHS has bought a mobile needle exchange for heroin addicts to use in a bid to halt an “uncontained HIV outbreak” in Scotland’s largest city. It is estimated that […]
Recycled hospital waste to helpt ‘desperate’ children in Africa
Pharmaceutical firm Adcock Ingram Critical Care has joined forces with a group of local hospitals and waste management businesses to recycle medical waste in the Johannesburg area of South Africa. […]
Sharps waste dumped in Totnes
Sharps boxes containing used hypodermic needles are being found dumped in bushes around an area of a supermarket car park used by thousands of shoppers. Over the last few months, […]