Proper sharps disposal equipment is essential for any healthcare facility that handles sharps. The term 'sharps' refers to all medical instruments with sharp points or edges that can cause injury by puncturing the skin, including needles, a common form of clinical waste found inside healthcare facilities. 

Proper disposal of sharps is paramount within the healthcare sector, ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals, patients and the wider community. This means that understanding the role of sharps bins is essential for anyone working within the healthcare industry. 

We’ve created this guide to proper sharps disposal, equipping you with the knowledge needed to uphold the high standards of safety required within modern healthcare settings. 

If you'd like further information about our sharps disposal bins after reading through this page, please make an enquiry here.

Sharps Disposal: What Exactly Is It?

As previously stated, sharps disposal refers to the safe containment of sharps waste, including the following items:

• Needles
• Lancets
• Scissors
• Metal wire
• Pins and staples
• Broken glass items (for example, beakers or vials)
• Blades (including scalpels and razors)

Whilst sharps containers are predominantly found in healthcare facilities, they can also be used in a range of other settings, such as schools and veterinary surgeries. Legally, businesses and organisations are required to dispose of their sharps waste appropriately, as laid out in the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.

Sharps disposal bins have an essential function in healthcare facilities, reducing the risk of infection and safeguarding both healthcare professionals and patients from injury.

Why is Sharps Disposal So Important in the Medical Industry?

Within the medical industry, adequate sharps disposal emerges as a prominent concern. Sharps containers are useful for a wide range of clinical settings - ranging from hospitals and GP surgeries, through to nursing homes and hospices.

Sharps are crucial tools in the healthcare world, having many clinical uses. However, the improper disposal of sharps products can have life-threatening implications, if not handled with care.

According to the Global Product Manager of Clinical Waste Management at Vernacare, Jenna Davies, “Sharps injuries can have long-lasting implications for healthcare workers. From the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens to the PTSD that can occur from not knowing if they have developed a life-changing infection, our Sharpsafe containers are purpose-designed to keep healthcare workers safe from harm.”

Therefore, exploring the benefits of proper sharps disposal is a crucial task for anyone working within the healthcare industry.

Safeguard Staff from Injuries

One of the main reasons that needle bins are so important is that they help to safeguard healthcare staff from injuries whilst working. Sharps (such as scalpels, needles and syringes) can lead to serious injury if not disposed of correctly. As well as needlestick injuries, healthcare workers, waste handlers (and even patients) can be put at risk of severe infection from bloodborne pathogens like HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

This point is not just limited to healthcare professionals and patients though. The use of sharps bins prevents sharps products from causing hazards within society, which can be a particular problem in public settings. This can lead to additional needlestick injuries within the wider community, affecting children and waste handlers.

Contamination Containment

Another factor that makes proper sharps disposal so important is that sharps containers help to contain contamination. Proper disposal of clinical waste prevents the risk of infection spreading, both within the healthcare industry and the wider world. Contaminated sharps can harbour a wide range of infectious agents and pathogens, posing a risk to healthcare professionals and patients.

Our sharps containers are instrumental in preventing contamination, designed specifically by our team to limit the spread of infection. For example, our Sharpsafe products have a large aperture that allows the safe disposal of needles and other sharps items, with added protection from the safety shield. 

Sharpsafe products have a sealed lid that prevents leakage and spillage of contaminated items, ensuring potentially infectious materials are kept securely contained. Our sharps bins are also manufactured from puncture-resistant materials, preventing sharp objects from piercing through the container and reducing the likelihood of future needlestick injuries. 

Modern sharps disposal containers should be labelled appropriately with biohazard symbols and clear instructions, informing healthcare professionals of the proper ways in which to dispose of sharps waste. As well as their informative function, these labels also provide a clear and consistent reminder to healthcare workers and sanitation staff to handle the contents with due caution.

The World of Regulatory Compliance

Sharps bins also play a crucial role by ensuring regulatory compliance is met within healthcare facilities. 

Guidelines are set out by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) under ISO 23907-1:2019, which protects healthcare professionals from occupational hazards. Sharps containers are extremely important in this domain, and should be designed specifically to meet ISO regulations for the safe containment and disposal of sharps. Guidance devised by ISO includes information about secure closures, adequate labelling and the use of puncture-resistant materials.

Another compliance regulation to be aware of is the UN3291, which is a directive administered by the UN (United Nations) to regulate the transportation of hazardous waste by land. Unlike the ISO sharps standard, the UN3291 is mandatory, with specific guidelines laid out that must be adhered to ensure safety during waste transport and disposal. To comply with the ruling, sharps bins must be labelled with hazard signs and appropriate information about the UN3291 designation.

As well as safeguarding healthcare professionals and patients, complying with UM3291 guidelines also enables clinical workers to mitigate the risk of regulatory enforcement actions.

The Sustainable Solution

The use of sharps bins ensures that sharps waste is disposed of correctly, reducing the risk of environmental contamination. When used as a proper waste management system, sharps bins can reduce the risk of pollution and public health hazards within the wider community.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 regulates the disposal of clinical waste within the UK, including sharps waste. Complying with these laws enables healthcare professionals to lower the risk of environmental contamination, with sharps bins being a major player in this area.

Another factor to consider is the fact that fewer needlestick injuries can mean reduced healthcare costs associated with healthcare-associated infections. This approach is particularly important for the NHS, contributing to the sustainability and efficiency of modern healthcare organisations.

Our single-use sharps containers are manufactured from 100% recycled plastic in their bases, reducing their carbon footprint without compromising on safety. 

At Vernacare, we’re committed to sustainability - you can find out more about our sustainable ethos here.

Moving Forward: Embracing Accurate Sharps Disposal

As you can see, adequate sharps disposal methods are a critical component of reducing the risk of infection within healthcare settings. By reducing the risk of infection transmission, effective sharps disposal safeguards the health and well-being of healthcare workers and the broader community, also reducing the strain on the healthcare industry.

At Vernacare, we're experts in the field of clinical waste, offering a diverse range of Sharpsafe sharps containers to meet the various needs of the healthcare world. 

From our extensive range of sharps bin designs through to innovative solutions like our NPSD Sharpsafe Trays, we're dedicated to providing optimal solutions for safe and effective waste management across the globe.