Keeping Employees Safe This Flu Season

What Happens to All the Sharps and Needles?

Healthcare providers, including pharmacies, private practices, and hospitals know that effective immunization programs are essential, especially as flu season approaches. With the high number of flu shots administered, healthcare facilities like doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies must properly dispose of the large volume of used needles. Proper disposal procedures reduce the risk of accidental needlesticks, preventing bloodborne pathogen transmission and ensure staff safety.

Here are some tips for effective needle disposal and staff protection.

1. Use OSHA compliant sharps containers
According to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii), healthcare facilities should place puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers in accessible patient care areas, so they’re easily accessible to staff. These receptacles should be clearly labeled and designed to securely hold contaminated sharps until disposal. Consider how and where the containers will be used; features such as a vertical drop lid could provide more convenience in certain workspaces.

2. Educate staff on proper procedures

If healthcare workers don’t understand the proper procedures and best practices for managing sharps before, during, and after use, they’re more likely to make mistakes, leading to injuries. All healthcare employees should undergo regular training on OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard as well as organization-specific sharps use protocols.

Healthcare organizations should also teach employees how to properly segregate waste, which helps protect staff and other waste workers, including:

• Segregating waste at the point of generation

• Clearly defining policies and processes, such as using labels and color codes

• Separating sharps from non-sharps and placing only sharps in sharps containers

3. Establish a reliable process for container removal
Without a container replacement process, sharps containers can exceed fill lines, putting staff at risk. WM offers various container sizes and service models that can be tailored to facility needs and waste volumes. We provide reusable, mail-back, and disposable sharps containers, as well as full-service and self-service options for sharps container exchange, supporting a variety of healthcare facilities and businesses. Having enough sharps containers available, especially during peak times like flu season, can prevent overflow that may lead to needlestick injuries.

WM can help support your healthcare facility’s vaccination programs, helping you and your employees stay safe and compliant. Contact us to learn how we can assist your healthcare organization.

This article is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances.