Unsafe needle disposal is not only a danger to the person disposing of the needles but also to the community at large. When needles are disposed of improperly, they can end up in public places where children and adults can accidentally stick themselves. This can lead to severe infections and even death. Unsafe needle disposal is a serious public health hazard. It can lead to the spread of disease, infection, and environmental ...
A sharps container is a specialized container that stores sharp medical instruments, such as needles, syringes, and lancets. Sharp's containers are usually made of hard plastic with a lid that locks to prevent spills. Some sharps containers also have a secondary locking mechanism to prevent accidental opening. Sharps containers safely store sharp medical instruments until they can be disposed of properly. This helps to ...
Biohazardous waste is any liquid, solid, or container containing infectious materials or potentially infectious substances. Infectious materials are anything with a pathogen, a microorganism that can cause disease in humans or animals. This type of waste can pose a severe health and safety risk to both people and the environment if it is not disposed of properly. Proper biohazardous waste disposal is critical to preventing ...
Many types of light bulbs are used in healthcare facilities, each with specific disposal requirements. However, all light bulbs should be recycled rather than thrown away in the trash. Fluorescent lamps, for example, contain small amounts of mercury and other hazardous materials. These materials can be released into the environment if the lights are broken or disposed of in landfills. On the other hand, LED bulbs do not ...
In 2022 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the healthcare industry continues to experience many challenges related to their biohazardous and sharps waste (medical waste). Medical waste poses a serious health risk when left out, improperly contained, or incorrectly disposed of. It is important to be aware and informed about the health risks of medical waste and why proper disposal is essential. Health care waste is ...
The CDC has confirmed 116 cases of a rare polio-like disease called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in the U.S. this year as of the date of this post. Found in 31 states as of Monday, over 90% of the cases involve children under the age of 18. For the most part, those affected were experiencing a mild respiratory illness before contracting the disease. What is AFM? Acute flaccid myelitis affects the nervous system, specifically ...
When it comes to the disposal of regulated medical waste, there are many standards that have been put into place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in an effort to protect healthcare workers from unnecessary exposure to potentially infectious materials. In 1991, OSHA created the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. This standard defines regulated medical waste and clarifies basic ...
The handling and disposal of medical waste is a reality for any dental facility, with multiple regulations in place to ensure that the ecological impact of its disposal is as minimal as possible. With over $996 billion pharmaceuticals sold worldwide annually, it’s imperative that the disposal of the resulting medical waste is handled properly and efficiently. Both medical professionals and the public are largely unaware of ...
In previous articles we have identified the different types of medical waste produced in dental offices and some ways of lowering the costs for the disposal of that waste. This article will address hazardous waste specifically, and the regulations surrounding its disposal. Hazardous waste can be found in any physical state; liquid, gaseous, or solid. The type of disposal depends entirely upon the physical state the waste is ...
Shop For Disposal Options Medical waste is generated daily by thousands of facilities across the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that, “Of the total amount of waste generated by health-care activities, about 85% is general, non-hazardous waste comparable to domestic waste. The remaining 15% is considered hazardous material that may be infectious, chemical or radioactive.” (1) Regardless of label, all ...
