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Posted By Paul Ross
Does an employer have to arrange for clinical waste disposal from first aid treatment?
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
The short answer is I believe Yes
Bob
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Posted By Laurie
Agree with Bob. Yes
Laurie
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Posted By John Donaldson
I presume that the clinical waste disposal you are talking of is simply first aid materials used to clean up minor cuts, abrasions, old plasters and gloves.
To be classified as Clinical Waste the discarded waste must be able to cause harm, I believe I have quoted the definition correctly.
Unless you are dealing with high risk groups you may be able to treat the waste with a strong disinfectant before disposing of it with your normal waste.
At the end of the day it would be worth speaking to you local Environment Agency Inspector to seek the Agency’s view on this matter particularly if you are only disposing of very small volumes.
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Posted By John Webster
I doubt very much if the type of waste generated by your first aiders falls within the definition of Clinical Waste.
Assuming that your premises are not Healthcare premises, then any waste generated is derived from the normally healthy population and as a general rule may be regarded as SANPRO waste i.e. having no greater risk than things like sanitary towels and dressing, bandages etc removed at home.
So soiled swabs, dressings, gloves etc should be double bagged and put in the normal domestic waste stream. Yellow clinical waste bags should NOT be used as this would cause confusion with 'proper' clinical waste. Body fluids should be disposed of down the WC.
Special arrangements are only necessary where there is an increased risk of infection, as in healthcare premises, centres for iv drug users or waste from known or suspected cases of a blood borne virus etc.
John
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Am I missing something here? The EPA defines clinical waste as waste arising from humans or animals which, unless made safe, are able to cause harm - or words approaching this. I cannot see any reason to believe that F/A treatment waste is any less harmful than that from the "real"clinical waste producers, sic the NHS. The difference is volume! The problem is relatively easy to solve as almost every employer has arrangements in place for female sanitery disposal and the same supplier will be pleased to discuss the needs for F/A materials.
I am much happier in the knowledge that they have the expertise which I lack to render such materials safe. Who is going to certify disinfection by a.n.otherperson who is not skilled in the required processes.
Bob
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Posted By Sarah J Shaw
Paul
The guidance you need to look too is Safe disposal of clinical waste ISBN 0 7176 2492 7 available from HSE Books price £10.50.
The definition of clinical waste under the controlled waste regs 1992 is
"Any waste which consists wholly or partly of: human or animal tissue;
blood or other body fluids;
excretions;
drugs or other pharmaceutical products;
swobs and dressings;
syringes, needles or other sharp instruments;
which unless rendered safe may prove hazardous to any person coming into contact with it.
And: any other waste arising from medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical or similar practice, investigation treatment, care, teaching or research, or the collection of blood for transfusion, being waste which may cause infection to any person coming into contact with it."
This means in practice that the waste you are talking of is clinical waste, but if you were to treat it as, mentioned by John, you could remove the need for specialist disposal. 1 part Sodium Hyperchlorite to 10 parts water and leave soaking for 30mins, would make an effective bleach treatment for this type of waste. This obviously introduces a COSHH hazard. If you have a treatment room, perhaps you could co-ordinate a suitable bin where this material could be collected and treated at the same time. I would suggest using a clinical bin to collect and treat it in, but then it could be bagged up normally for disposal.
A warning note: Where waste is concerned never assume that domestic disposal arrangements set the precident for business. Domestic refuse is exempt from most waste regulations!!!!!!! So you could leave yourself exposed.
If you would like any further information please e-mail me, I would be happy to help.
Sarah
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Posted By Bill Elliott
Sarah has given the right document to give guidance - However, that document states clearly that unless you are generating more than one standard bag/container over your normal collection period, there is no need to treat such small volumes as "clinical". Such waste can legitimately be disposed of in the "domestic" waste system. Unless you are producing gallons of blood soaked swabs, dressings, bits of limbs etc. etc. it is extremely unlikely you would need to arrange clinical waste collection. The basis of clinical waste segregation is to avoid contact with "infectious" waste. Generally employees are considered to be essentially healthy and any minimal waste generated through the administration of first aid is assumed to come from uninfected sources.
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Posted By Sarah J Shaw
Bill
Thanks. It does pay to read further!
I notice that the guidance also says you can use yellow and black striped bags to segregate the waste in. Paul you really should read this. If you want I can fax/e-mail you the relevant pages for info.
Sarah
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Posted By John Webster
Bob,
The point that I think you are missing is the potential for harm, ie the risk of infection.
Firstly, there is a huge difference between the clinical type waste generated in Healthcare premises, and that from the home, office or factory, and not just in quantity. At its simplest, most people are generally healthy. Almost by definition, most people being treated in Healthcare premises are unhealthy. Add to that body parts, hypodermic needles just as a couple of examples, and you will see the risk is multiplied many fold, as is the difficulty of rendering it safe.
The definition you give is as good as correct, but the wording "unless rendered safe may prove hazardous to any person coming into contact with it" is important. For minor first aid items, both at home and work, double bagging may be all that is reqired to render it safe. Infection risk is low -most of this kind of waste would not be hazardous anyway -, and so is the risk of anyone coming into contact with it, especially in a manner likely to cause them harm.
John
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