Proper disposal of waste
Where do you find sharp containers?
-in patient rooms either on the wall at the head of the bed or by the door when exiting the room -in medication rooms off the nursing station -in procedure rooms
What are items that are able to go into a sharp container?
-needles and syringes -scalpel blades and lancets -glass pipettes, slides, and tubes -broken, contaminated glass -staples and wires (cardio-catheter wires -orthodontic wires -disposable suture sets and biopsy forceps -electrocautery tips (no cauterizers or batteries)
What are some waste receptacles found in hospital or institutional areas?
-red sharps container or puncture resistant container -red bags/trash cans labeled biohazard -office or regular trash -patient room trash -toilet flush away -leak resistant bags and double bagging
What does go into a red bag?
-visibly bloody gloves -visibly bloody plastic tubing -visibly contaminated PPE -saturated gauze -saturated bandages -blood saturated items -closed disposable sharps containers
Whats the definition of sharps?
1. capable of penetrating skin 2. potentially contaminated
What is regulated waste capable of?
being infectious, injurious and hazardous
What body fluids can go down a toilet flush?
blood, urine, aspirated body fluids
How is regulated waste identified to staff, nurses, patients, visitors, and family?
in a red bag and marked biohazard
Where are new biohazard bags found?
in the clean utility room
why is regulated trash placed in a red bag?
it is managed differently than other trash
What are some features of the institutional flush toilet?
large bowl: able to easily handle the disposal of body fluids including blood foot pedal: for flushing Spray nozzle: rinse out items like in a urinal Large and long spigot drop down flush arm
Regulated waste
liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPM); contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Are office trash cans infectious, hazardous and injurious?
no
What can you put into a office trash can?
paper, plastic, and office waste
Where do you dispose of stomach contents in a suction canister?
red bad labeled biohazard
What is regulated trash placed in?
red bagging
Where do you dispose of a saturated dressing with yellow drainage?
regular trash
Where do you dispose of foley drainage bags, emptied of urine?
regular trash
Where do you dispose of food on a meal tray?
regular trash
Where do you dispose of gloves after handling a wet brief?
regular trash
Where do you dispose of paper towels from drying your hands?
regular trash
Office trash cans are considered what?
safe trash
Where do you dispose of a needle from suturing a wound?
sharps container
Where do you dispose of lancets?
sharps container
Where do you transport biohazard bags once full?
to a larger receptacle in the dirty utility room on the nursing unit -this bigger bag is emptied daily
Where do you dispose of bloody emesis?
toilet flush
Where do you dispose of emesis?
toilet flush
Where do you dispose of urine in foley drainage bag?
toilet flush
Why would you use the double bagging technique?
when the outside of the first bag is soiled -you double bag prior to transporting into the hall to a receptacle -includes bed linens and specimen containers
Are sharp containers considered injurious, hazardous, and infectious?
yes
Does biohazard include sharps?
yes
