Disposal of clinical waste and sharps

Question 1

Q: What is clinical waste?

Answer 1

A: Waste consisting of human or animal tissue, blood, body fluids, excretions, drugs, swabs, dressings, syringes, or needles that may be hazardous if not rendered safe.

Question 2

Q: Define sharps in the context of clinical waste.

Answer 2

A: Items that can cause penetrating injuries, such as needles, scalpels, and broken glass.

Question 3

Q: What is offensive waste?

Answer 3

A: Waste that is unpleasant but non-infectious and does not contain pharmaceutical or chemical substances.

Question 4

Q: Why is correct disposal of clinical waste and sharps essential?

Answer 4

A: To prevent sharps injuries, toxic exposure, air pollution, pathogen release, and environmental contamination.

Question 5

Q: What percentage of hospital injuries are sharps-related?

Answer 5

A: Sharps injuries account for 16% of hospital injuries.

Question 6

Q: What are the environmental risks of incorrect waste disposal?

Answer 6

A: Release of pathogens, toxic pollutants, and pharmaceutical residues into the environment.

Question 7

Q: What is required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations for clinical waste?

Answer 7

A: Employers must assess and regularly review risks posed by clinical waste and provide adequate training to employees.

Question 8

Q: What type of waste goes into orange bags?

Answer 8

A: Infectious waste needing disinfection, e.g., contaminated PPE, plasters, wipes, and small tissue fragments.

Question 9

Q: What type of waste is disposed of in yellow bags?

Answer 9

A: Infectious waste requiring incineration, such as chemically contaminated samples and medicated dressings.

Question 10

Q: What are yellow-and-black striped (tiger) bags used for?

Answer 10

A: Offensive hygiene waste, e.g., non-infectious PPE, uncontaminated dressings, and empty IV bags.

Question 11

Q: What type of waste is disposed of in black bags?

Answer 11

A: Non-hazardous domestic waste, such as food containers, paper towels, and recyclable items.

Question 12

Q: What waste requires a purple-striped yellow bag?

Answer 12

A: Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicinal waste.

Question 13

Q: What are the three types of sharps bin lids, and their uses?

Answer 13

A:
Yellow: Non-hazardous medicinal sharps.

Purple: Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicinal sharps.

Orange: Non-medicinal sharps (England and Wales); fully discharged sharps (Scotland and Northern Ireland).

Question 14

Q: How should sharps bins be labelled?

Answer 14

A: With the assembler’s name, date, location, and a unique identifier for traceability.

Question 15

Q: When should a sharps bin be closed and locked?

Answer 15

A: When three-quarters full, at the fill line, or if three months have passed since assembly.

Question 16

Q: What are the storage requirements for clinical waste and sharps bins?

Answer 16

A: They must be stored in secure, locked areas away from public access.

Question 17

Q: What is the “swan neck” method?

Answer 17

A: A method for securely tying clinical waste bags by twisting and doubling the top of the bag before securing with a knot or cable tie.

Question 18

Q: What must healthcare organisations ensure for clinical waste disposal?

Answer 18

A: A licensed waste management service must be contracted for regular removal of clinical waste

Question 19

Q: What should be done with a torn clinical waste bag?

Answer 19

A: Its contents must be placed inside a new bag.

Question 20

Q: What PPE is required when handling clinical waste?

Answer 20

A: Nitrile gloves and aprons.

Question 21

Q: What first-aid steps should be taken after a sharps injury?

Answer 21

A: Wash the injury with soap and water, encourage bleeding, and cover with a waterproof plaster. For mucous membranes, irrigate with saline.

Question 22

Q: What is the importance of staff training in waste management?

Answer 22

A: Staff must know the correct segregation, disposal procedures, and risks to maintain safety and comply with regulations.

Question 23

Q: What are the three main categories of clinical waste according to the Department of Health (DH, 2013)?

Answer 23

A:
1. Waste that poses a risk of infection.

2. Waste that poses a chemical hazard.
3. Medicines and medicinally contaminated waste.

Question 24

Q: What items are included in anatomical clinical waste disposed of in red-lidded containers?

Answer 24

A: Recognisable body parts, placenta, and human tissue.

Question 25

Q: What additional precautions should be taken for storing clinical waste?

Answer 25

A: Use pedal-operated bins, ensure waste bags are two-thirds full before tying, and avoid overfilling or leaving bins unattended.

Question 26

Q: What is the environmental significance of proper healthcare waste disposal?

Answer 26

A: Prevents contamination of water bodies with pharmaceuticals and mitigates the release of drug-resistant microorganisms.

Question 27

Q: What should be done if a sharps bin’s contents protrude or it becomes overfilled?

Answer 27

A: Do not attempt to push down the contents. Close and lock the bin immediately, label it, and replace it with a new one.

Question 28

Q: What measures should be taken during sharps disposal to prevent injuries?

Answer 28

A: Assemble the bin securely, position it at waist height, avoid overfilling, and use temporary closure mechanisms when not in use.

Question 29

Q: Why must healthcare organisations aim to reduce waste and emissions?

Answer 29

A: To minimise environmental hazards, align with global health regulations, and reduce carbon footprints.

Question 30

Q: What are some examples of non-infectious offensive waste?

Answer 30

A: Sanitary products, nappies from healthy children, and uncontaminated dressings.

Question 31

Q: Why must the labels and lids of clinical waste containers match in colour?

Answer 31

A: To prevent mismanagement and ensure waste is disposed of in the correct stream.