Sharps disposal is an important element of healthcare waste management. Sharps are medical items that can pose serious risks to health and safety if not properly handled and disposed of. Whether you’re managing a healthcare facility, physician’s office, dental practice, or veterinary clinic, it’s essential to ensure sharps containers are in the right place, with the correct lid on them, and emptied regularly. Staff must also be trained in how to handle sharps safely and dispose of them so that they remain compliant with OSHA regulations. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at all you need to know about proper sharps disposal – from providing approved containers through staff training – to ensure your organization remains compliant and safe.
Sharps Disposal – What Is It Exactly?
Sharps disposal is the process of safely disposing of items that have been used to deliver medications, draw blood or monitor vital signs. These items, known as sharps, include, but are not limited to needles, syringes, lancets, and IV catheters. Any facility dealing with sharps must ensure they are disposed of correctly to protect both staff and visitors from potential needlestick injuries and exposure to pathogens. In order for a workplace or healthcare setting to remain compliant with OSHA regulations there must be appropriate training for staff on how to handle and dispose of sharps properly.
Why is Proper Sharps Disposal So Crucial?
Proper disposal of sharps is essential to protect both staff and visitors from risk. Needlestick injuries can cause a range of medical problems such as viral infections, bacterial infections, hepatitis B or C, and even HIV if exposure occurs to blood containing these pathogens. It’s also important to note that improper disposal of sharps can lead to accidental exposure for waste handlers downstream which can present further risk. For this reason, all healthcare settings must ensure they have taken the necessary steps to provide proper training and appropriate containers for the safe disposal of sharps.
How To Ensure Compliance?
One of the most important steps for ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations is providing approved sharps containers. These should be clearly labeled and placed in easily accessible locations throughout your facility. The containers must also have secure lids that are able to contain any needles or other sharp objects if they are accidentally dropped. Furthermore, staff should be trained in how to use these containers correctly, as well as how to safely handle sharps before disposing of them. Finally, container contents must be emptied regularly and disposed of properly according to local guidelines. This will help ensure all waste is handled correctly and remains compliant with regulations.
Partner With A Medical Waste Management Company
For healthcare facilities, it is important to partner with a medical waste management company that will provide best-in-class service and reliable disposal solutions. AMS MedWaste offers comprehensive medical waste management services for all types of healthcare settings; such as hospitals, nursing homes, dental practices and more. Our services include medical waste pickup and disposal. We also provide sharps containers for biomedical waste generators and more. We have a wide range of products to meet all your needs, from regular pickups to on-demand service for sharps containers.
Customized Sharps Disposal with AMS MedWaste
At AMS MedWaste, we’re dedicated to providing superior service and maintaining a safe environment for our clients. We specialize in customized sharps disposal services, tailored specifically to your industry and business needs. Our team of professionals can help you develop a pickup schedule that fits into your busy day-to-day operations. We’ll also provide training on proper sharps disposal procedures, so you can be sure all safety standards are being met.
Call us today to discuss how we can customize a program for your medical office or facility!
