Disposal of clinical waste and sharps Flashcards
Q: What is clinical waste?
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.
Q: Define sharps in the context of clinical waste.
A: Items that can cause penetrating injuries, such as needles, scalpels, and broken glass.
Q: What is offensive waste?
A: Waste that is unpleasant but non-infectious and does not contain pharmaceutical or chemical substances.
Q: Why is correct disposal of clinical waste and sharps essential?
A: To prevent sharps injuries, toxic exposure, air pollution, pathogen release, and environmental contamination.
Q: What percentage of hospital injuries are sharps-related?
A: Sharps injuries account for 16% of hospital injuries.
Q: What are the environmental risks of incorrect waste disposal?
A: Release of pathogens, toxic pollutants, and pharmaceutical residues into the environment.
Q: What is required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations for clinical waste?
A: Employers must assess and regularly review risks posed by clinical waste and provide adequate training to employees.
Q: What type of waste goes into orange bags?
A: Infectious waste needing disinfection, e.g., contaminated PPE, plasters, wipes, and small tissue fragments.
Q: What type of waste is disposed of in yellow bags?
A: Infectious waste requiring incineration, such as chemically contaminated samples and medicated dressings.
Q: What are yellow-and-black striped (tiger) bags used for?
A: Offensive hygiene waste, e.g., non-infectious PPE, uncontaminated dressings, and empty IV bags.
Q: What type of waste is disposed of in black bags?
A: Non-hazardous domestic waste, such as food containers, paper towels, and recyclable items.
Q: What waste requires a purple-striped yellow bag?
A: Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicinal waste.
Q: What are the three types of sharps bin lids, and their uses?
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).
Q: How should sharps bins be labelled?
A: With the assembler’s name, date, location, and a unique identifier for traceability.
Q: When should a sharps bin be closed and locked?
A: When three-quarters full, at the fill line, or if three months have passed since assembly.
Q: What are the storage requirements for clinical waste and sharps bins?
A: They must be stored in secure, locked areas away from public access.
Q: What is the “swan neck” method?
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.
Q: What must healthcare organisations ensure for clinical waste disposal?
A: A licensed waste management service must be contracted for regular removal of clinical waste
Q: What should be done with a torn clinical waste bag?
A: Its contents must be placed inside a new bag.
Q: What PPE is required when handling clinical waste?
A: Nitrile gloves and aprons.
Q: What first-aid steps should be taken after a sharps injury?
A: Wash the injury with soap and water, encourage bleeding, and cover with a waterproof plaster. For mucous membranes, irrigate with saline.
Q: What is the importance of staff training in waste management?
A: Staff must know the correct segregation, disposal procedures, and risks to maintain safety and comply with regulations.
Q: What are the three main categories of clinical waste according to the Department of Health (DH, 2013)?
A:
1. Waste that poses a risk of infection.
- Waste that poses a chemical hazard.
- Medicines and medicinally contaminated waste.
Q: What items are included in anatomical clinical waste disposed of in red-lidded containers?
A: Recognisable body parts, placenta, and human tissue.
Q: What additional precautions should be taken for storing clinical waste?
A: Use pedal-operated bins, ensure waste bags are two-thirds full before tying, and avoid overfilling or leaving bins unattended.
Q: What is the environmental significance of proper healthcare waste disposal?
A: Prevents contamination of water bodies with pharmaceuticals and mitigates the release of drug-resistant microorganisms.
Q: What should be done if a sharps bin’s contents protrude or it becomes overfilled?
A: Do not attempt to push down the contents. Close and lock the bin immediately, label it, and replace it with a new one.
Q: What measures should be taken during sharps disposal to prevent injuries?
A: Assemble the bin securely, position it at waist height, avoid overfilling, and use temporary closure mechanisms when not in use.
Q: Why must healthcare organisations aim to reduce waste and emissions?
A: To minimise environmental hazards, align with global health regulations, and reduce carbon footprints.
Q: What are some examples of non-infectious offensive waste?
A: Sanitary products, nappies from healthy children, and uncontaminated dressings.
Q: Why must the labels and lids of clinical waste containers match in colour?
A: To prevent mismanagement and ensure waste is disposed of in the correct stream.
