clinical waste management

Question 1

name four universal precautions

Answer 1

• avoiding contact with patient’s bodily fluids bu use of PPE
• disposal of clinical waste
• don’t overfill sharps containers
• never re-sheath contaminated needles

Question 2

which law do you have to abide by regarding clinical waste management and what is the penalty if you do not obey?

Answer 2

the environmental protection (duty of care) regulation 1991

- fined between 1k to 250k

Question 3

what are the four steps to sorting clinical waste?

Answer 3

• segregated correctly
• identified appropriately
• stored securely at collection points
• handed over to licensed contractors for disposal

Question 4

what are the three bags that clinical waste is separated into?

Answer 4

• non-hazardous offensive waste
• hazardous infectious waste
• anatomical waste

Question 5

what colour bag is non-hazardous offensive waste put into and give examples of this type of waste

Answer 5

- tiger ( yellow and black stripes)
examples:
- any disposables that do not pose a risk
- continence pads/ inco sheets
- non-medicated IV fluid bags
- flannels/wipes
- gloves/aprons
- oxygen mask/tubing

Question 6

what colour bag is hazardous infectious waste put into and give examples of this type of waste

Answer 6

• orange bag

- anything contaminated by blood, blood products or infected bodily fluids

Question 7

what colour bag is anatomical waste put into

Answer 7

• yellow bag

theaters/labs

Question 8

what are the other types of waste?

Answer 8

• domestic:
• wet: hand towels, wipes, non-recyclable food waste
• dry: treatment packages, crisps packets, cartons, sweet and chewing gum, pens/paper clips/ plastics
• recycled:
• newspaper, cardboard, aluminium, food waste

Question 9

what are the three types of containers?

Answer 9

• purple (cytotoxic/cytostatic)
• yellow (drugs/ scissors,scalpels, medicinal sharps/syringes)
• orange (blood/ non-medicinal sharps/ disposable razors/small sharps)

Question 10

what is a sharps/ needle stick injury?

Answer 10

inoculated with another persons body fluid by means f needle, scalpel, lancet or other

Question 11

what is the risk of sharps injury?

Answer 11

exposure to BBV

Question 12

how to deal with sharps injury

Answer 12

• bleed under running water
• wash with soap, rinse &dry
• protect with dressing
• report to ward manager
• attend occupational health

Question 13

what mustn’t you do with sharps injuries?

Answer 13

• do not suck/ scrub