Despite modern advancements in sharps technologies and design, injuries from them are still common in healthcare facilities. Professionals in medical care units have a considerable risk of being exposed to grave medical conditions due to sharps injuries like HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and others.
Protect healthcare professionals with a disposal sharps container
Healthcare providers must pay continued attention when it comes to the reduction of sharps-related injuries and risks. Credible sharps disposal companies undertake the onus to not only enhance the safe collection of sharps from the healthcare facilities they serve but also reduce the chances of a sharps-related injury from occurring to healthcare professionals in the unit. Besides the safe collection of medical waste with disposal sharps container units, they also offer guidance on the best practices and methods to reduce the risks of sharps injuries on the premise.
How can needlestick injuries be reduced?
Healthcare facilities can reduce the risks of injuries from sharps with the help of protection features that can be used with devices with needlesticks. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that healthcare units should invest in medical devices with safe “needleless” or systems that have retractable needles.
However, these safety features should be activated instantly to prevent risks to patients and staff. All the processes for the safe disposal of sharps must be followed stringently to reduce the chances of injuries, from its source to the end of the waste stream. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that approximately 25% of sharps injuries take place because medical devices do not have needlestick protection features.
Routine evaluation of the procedures deployed for sharps disposal
The healthcare facility should evaluate the procedures and the practices used for the disposal of sharps on the premise. Containers for the safe removal of sharps should be placed close to their point of origin. The sharps disposal containers should be placed at shoulder height with features for safety to keep the hands and fingers protected from needlestick injuries. All of these containers should be set in an organized manner with lids that can be tightly closed.
Maintaining a neutral zone in the healthcare facility
Every healthcare facility requires a neutral zone so that the passing of sharps physically from hand to hand can be mitigated. The transfer of the sharps should be done here so that all of them are kept in a single place. The disposal sharps container units must be placed in this zone.
Training is indispensable for healthcare professionals handling sharps
Employees of the healthcare unit responsible for handling sharps should be educated and trained in its safe disposal methods. Those that take sharps must demonstrate their competency in handling them correctly. Training healthcare staff is essential, along with written guidelines and standards to be followed in the facility.
The objective of these training programs is to make healthcare professionals familiar with the correct ways of handling sharps disposal processes. In this manner, needlestick injuries can be reduced, and the spread of infections can be controlled successfully.
