How Do I Handle My Sharps Bin?
If you have ever dealt with any type of ‘sharp’, i.e. any device sharp enough to cut or puncture the skin, you can understand how important proper disposal is. Sharps waste, by definition, is any bio-hazardous material that can puncture skin and is contaminated with bodily fluids. According to estimates from OSHA, an astounding 5.6 million healthcare workers are risking exposure to harmful pathogens and serious injuries by handling medical equipment such as needles, syringes, and scalpels. And this doesn’t include individuals injured by improper sharps use or disposal at home or while traveling.
So whether you’re handling sharps at work (like in a medical clinic, practice, or surgery center), at home (dealing with chronic illnesses that require sharps use, like diabetes), while traveling or even with your pets, you need to make sure to use medical sharps correctly, including knowing what a proper sharps bin is and how to dispose of it once it’s full. Here are the basic steps to finding, using and disposing of a sharps bin correctly.
Find the Right Sharps Bin
The proper sharps bin is FDA-approved and can be easily identified as a container specifically used for sharps waste disposal. These containers are typically available from pharmacies, medical supply companies, health care providers and online retailers. If you can’t find an FDA-cleared bin, you need to make sure the container you select is made of heavy-duty plastic, is leak-resistant, is able to stand upright and be closed completely or sealed so no sharps are able to come out, and is properly labeled to show that hazardous materials are inside.
Use the Sharps Bin Correctly
Any sharp device you handle should be properly disposed of in the right container. While that may seem like a common sense statement, not everyone realizes what all should go into a sharps bin. Everyone knows that a syringe or a scalpel are sharp devices, but there are many other devices that should be included as well: needles, lancets, broken glass, dental wires, auto-injectors (like insulin pens or an Epipen), infusion sets, etc. The sharps should be placed in the bin as immediately as possible after use.
Dispose of the Sharps Bin Properly
Once your sharps bin is 3/4 full, it needs to be disposed of according to federal, state and community guidelines. Firstly, verify what federal and local laws you need to follow, and check with your local trash removal service or health department to see if they can handle disposal for you. If not, there are a few different methods you can look into:
- Drop boxes or collection sites: You may be able to drop your bin off at supervised collection sites, like doctors’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies, health departments, police or fire stations.
- Mail-back programs: Certain collection sites allow you to mail certain FDA-cleared containers for proper disposal. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions included with the disposal container, as these programs may have specific requirements for mail-back.
- Special waste pick up services: Your community may provide pick-up services for sharps disposal containers, depending state laws and company guidelines for pick up. The container is placed outside the home for collection by trained special waste handlers. Some programs require customers to call for pickup, while others offer regular pickup schedules.
- Medical waste disposal companies: Find a fully licensed and compliant disposal company that offers a wide range of services to cover whatever your needs may be.
No matter how or where you’re using sharps, being responsible is essential for you, your patients or co-workers, and for the community. By making sure the containers you use are handled and disposed of properly and by following medical sharps disposal regulations, you can keep your company compliant, avoid unnecessary fees or penalties, prevent injury, and prevent the spread of disease. If you are located in the Birmingham or Huntsville, AL areas, and are in need of a medical waste disposal company to handle your sharps bins, please contact us at SecureMed. We can assess the needs of your facility and find the medical waste solution that works for you.
