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Sharps Containers
The correct and consistent use of rigid sharps containers in the health care environment has been demonstrated to reduce the number of needle stick injuries. Studies indicate that placement of disposal boxes in all patient and treatment rooms decreases the frequency of sharps injury. Investigators have concluded that appropriately placed sharps containers reduce needle stick injuries related to recapping of sharps by as much as 80%. The cost benefits of using sharps containers as a means to reduce needle stick injuries are also huge since this reduces the chances of facing lawsuits from injured healthcare staff. A sharps container is a container that is filled with used medical needles (and other sharp medical instruments, such as an IV catheter). They are typically made of hard plastic so that needles cannot poke through. They fit into two main types: - Single use which are disposed of with the waste inside, - Re-usable which are robotically emptied and sterilized before being returned for re-use. Needles are dropped into the container without touching the outside of the container. Needles should never be pushed or forced into the container, as damage to the container or needle stick injuries may result. In most countries around the world, recapping and de-notching needles is also no longer an accepted practice. The design of the sharps container and the location of the unwinder must allow the needle removal to be accomplished in a safe one-handed manner. In addition to the above mentioned safety characteristics, evaluation of such sharps containers should also consider the following safety features: 1. The sharps container should be designed so that it is easily and safely determined as to when the container needs to be emptied; this avoids overfilling and reduces the risk of injury. 2. The sharps container with an unwinder should be stabilized (secured to a wall, table, or tray) to prevent slipping during use. 3. The design of the unwinder must allow the employee to use the unwinder with a one-handed technique; that is, the employee must not be required to secure the needle with one hand while the other hand is unwinding it. 4. The unwinder should be designed so that the needles do not slip or slide within the unwinder during the needle removal process; the unwinder should provide a secure capture that prevents movement of the needle while it is removed. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com To know more about ergonomically designed sharps containers that feature a user safety handle and an extra-wide mouth that enable sharps disposal accuracy please visit www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com/sharps-disposal.php |
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