Importance of Safe Handling and Disposal of Sharps and Needles Waste

Importance of Safe Handling and Disposal of Sharps and Needles Waste
Pic credits: www.flickr.com

It is a serious cause for concern when used injecting equipment (needles/syringes/sharps) are sometimes found in parks and other public places. If these hazardous materials are not separated from regular waste injuries can occur.

And this exposure lead to infections.

Wounds caused by needles that accidentally puncture the skin are needle-stick injuries. Exposed needles can carry blood-borne viruses like AIDS (the HIV virus), hepatitis B and hepatitis C. And anyone is at risk of getting contaminated by a needle stick injury.

Objects or devices with sharp points or cutting edges are sharps. Sharps are capable of cutting or piercing the skin. Exposed sharps can spread blood-borne pathogens when they come in contact with/penetrate the skin. This leads to transmission of diseases.

Proper management and disposal of these hazardous materials.

Here are a few guidelines to help reduce any risk of injury and prevent the spread of disease.

  • It is important to discard all needles and other sharps in designated disposal containers immediately after they have been used.  They are not recyclable, do not put them in your recycling bin.
  • If not disposed of correctly or removed from the environment, they may be reused or misused.
  • Follow the disposal guidelines/methods of your living area or your health department.
  • Keep all sharps/needles and disposal containers out of reach of children and pets.
  • Patients purchasing any drug products that are used with a needle or other sharps should ask for disposal containers.
  • Do not flush needles and other sharps down the toilet.

Contact Biosite Cleanup to know more about our sharps cleanup/needle cleanup services. We have the expertise and knowledge to ensure your property is free from dangers of biohazard materials. We professionally collect, handle and dispose of sharps & needles in proper containers and decontaminate the property.

We provide cleaning services in Goulburn, Canberra, Batemans Bay, and surrounding areas of NSW.   

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