Know the potential hazards & how to avoid them

As a professional who works in the healthcare or medical field, you’re faced with a multitude of stresses on a daily basis, especially if you’re caring for the health and well-being of others. And in addition to ensuring that you’re following proper protocol when it comes to treating patients, following the right medical waste disposal procedures is key—to your safety and the safety of others. Here are just a few of the hazards and potential dangers that everyone working with medical waste needs to be aware of:

The when and where of medical waste items

Although it may seem simple enough, understanding which medical waste materials need to be disposed of and when can be confusing, especially when you have staff members with different levels of experience. Items like examination gloves, for example, that may not be visibly soiled, may seen innocuous enough, but in actuality should be disposed of after each use—reusing them could potentially spread germs or diseases. Your medical waste disposal provider can help train new employees on when and where to properly dispose of certain items.

Protecting against accidental injuries

Disposing of sharps is another case where healthcare workers need to be cognizant of potential injuries and accidents that can lead to illness. Using the right sharps waste containers is just one aspect of proper disposal—so it’s crucial that those using these items know exactly how to handle them, how often to have containers replaced and what to do if they are stuck by a needle or other sharp waste.

Ensuring there’s no overflow

Even if your team is well versed on how and when to dispose of waste items, another important issue to remain vigilant on is your removal schedule. Without pick-up on a regular basis, medical waste bins will fill up and overflow, which is a potential hazard to all who work and visit your facility. Your team should note how quickly bins fill up and work with your waste disposal company to implement the ideal schedule.

Proper handling of disposal containers

Handling disposal bins and containers is something that your medical waste disposal provider is specially trained for—so even if it seems easy enough, it’s best to leave moving, unlocking, and transporting them to the experts. If not, mishaps, including spillage, could occur which endangers your team and your patients.

Finding a trusted provider

Just like in any other industry, there are those companies who claim to be experts but don’t have the proper certification and licensing to provide medical waste disposal. And choosing the wrong company to handle your medical waste can be hazardous, cause illness among your workers and your patients or clients. Be sure that you select an organization that is licensed and is OSHA, HIPAA and Health Department compliant.

The team at All Points Medical Waste is rigorously trained in the protocols of handling, disposal and removal of medical waste materials. We provide disposal services to an array of facilities including private medical practices, dental offices, funeral homes, treatment centers, veterinarian offices, health departments and more—call us today at 772.600.4885 to learn more about what we do and how we can serve you.