Does your business handle sharps daily or regularly? People who own or manage care homes, salons/beauty centres, tattoo parlours, dental clinics, hospitals and medicals centres use sharps regularly and are required to dispose of them properly after use. Sharps are any sharp devices with edges or points that can cause cuts or punctures. They may include syringes, needles, scalpels, scissors, lancets, and other similar objects.

Business owners who use sharps are required to follow some regulations to ensure sharps removal and disposal is done correctly. This is because sharps are hazardous once contaminated and can easily cause infections. Sharps that are soiled by body fluid, blood or medicines should also be handled cautiously. You don't need to panic anymore if you don't know what to do. This post will be offering a straightforward guide on how to handle sharps disposal.

Sharps disposal tips

Whether you are using sharps at work or home, it is essential to dispose of them safely to reduce injury risks. It would help if you had a sharps bin with colour coded lids for this. Such bins are made of sturdy plastic that's puncture-proof so that the waste will be contained in the bin securely. Take some time to study what each colour coded lid represents so you can dispose of the waste efficiently. For instance, yellow-lidded containers are meant for empty or partially discharged sharps, while containers with purple lids are designed for cyto sharps.

Since each disposal container is designed to hold a specific kind of sharps, be sure to use them appropriately – don't combine the sharps. Also, remember to replace the bin once its two-thirds full.

Below are other additional tips you shouldn't forget:

1. Don't try to put your hand or fingers into the sharps waste container. Some people make a mistake of sticking their hands into the container to push the sharp objects in – this doesn't seem right. The best way to push the sharps in is by using tongs. Also, if you find an unwrapped sharp object outside the waste container, you can pick it by hand on the non-sharp end. Use tongs if it has multiple pointed ends.
2. All sharps bins should be strategically placed within your reach and at an eye level. This facilitates effective sharps removal and disposal.
3. Make sure all the sharps bins are assembled and labelled correctly. They should also be placed far from kids or pets.

To learn more about sharps disposal, contact rubbish removal companies in your area.