http:// home of the clinical waste discussion forum ian blenkharn environmental & healthcare...

http://www.ianblenkharn.comhome of the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum

Ian BlenkharnEnvironmental & Healthcare Microbiology

htpp://www.ianblenkharn.com

Healthcare & related wastes in the community- how others see us, and we see others

And some who may not see again!


Clinical wastes in the community

• care homes, clinics, schools, dentists, pharmacists, alternate practitioners, piercers, tattooists

• domiciliary care & minor self-care• drug abuse• sex industry• trauma or violence• fly-tipping etc

An audit of service standards evidenced by information on web sites



271 LA web sites

CW collections, domestic premises 131in-house service 123by contractor 8collect soft waste only 5

no service 25refer to hospital/GP 7refer to Yellow Pages 6

not stated 115

Suppliesprovide sacks 31

provide sharps box 16

no box provided, or FP10 11



Service standards

frequency 3x week … monthly

time of collection 7am … 6pm

contact details / enquires 87

waste to doorstep / kerbside / agreed location 29

multi-occupancy properties 2

bulk storage facilities 3

discrete confidential service 14

regular staff; staff ID; liaison with carer(s)

use green bin; wrap soft waste in paper, put in black sack; sharps to glass jar or drinks can;

take filled sharps box to GP; separate request for every collection; charge for yellow sacks;

contact by email, on-line form or letter only



Retrieval of drug litter etc• 271 LA web sites

- needle retrieval service 130(48%)

• Service located by search- needle(s) 48- syringe(s) 86- fly tipping 16- environment 19- general 102

• Service limits- public areas only 68- private land 8- not stated 195



Retrieval of drug litter etc• Contact information

- dedicated phone 68- 24 hour phone 27- on-line form / email 6- office hours only 244- freephone 1- switchboard 169

• Response time- urgent/prompt 13- 24/7 6- 2 – 4 hours 7- within 24 hours 7- not stated 238



Retrieval of drug litter etc• Safety information

- do not touch 42- pick up 14- do not cover 14- cover 11- general safety advice 18

- conditional/incomplete advice 51

- no information 118

handle only in an emergency; bulldog clip; wear gloves; put in bottle/can; wrap in paper; take to Police, GP, Pharmacy; send for free leaflet; 0870 numberdrugs/AIDS awareness links; drugs agencies links; emergency healthcare advice


Recycling of domestic wastes

• HSE Guidance to Cut Recycling Vehicle Incidents

• 4 September 2006 - In a bid to cut the injuries and deaths from waste and recycling collection vehicles, the Health & Safety Executive launched new guidance, Waste and Recycling Vehicles in Street Collection

• 6 deaths since December 2005 - vehicle reversing

• reversing aids• banksmen• vehicle safety checks• driver assessment• personal protective equipment (PPE)• supervision and monitoring• responsibilities of individuals• hand washing provision should be provided where

there is a risk of contact with corrosives, acids, biohazards, etc



• Food waste - use of binshouseholds surveyed 102bin inside kitchen 13bin outside kitchen 49garage or outhouse 3remote storage 19communal storage 18 (8

shared)

• Food waste - handwashingno response 13sometimes 53 / 89always 24 / 89never 12 / 89

perhaps more!

• Food waste – service standardsemptied weekly 61emptied fortnightly 9not stated 23home composting 9



• Food waste• smell• fly infestation• rodent infestation

• But ….• no liners permitted!• infrequent collections• contamination of lid & handle• bin hygiene?• no hand washing


Recycling of domestic wastes• inadequate PPE• training?• supervision?

• no handwash!• no bacon butties?• no cigarettes?

serious physical injury infection


The cost of kerbside recycling?

Food?

Glass?

False alarm?


Social Role Valorisation…

• A scientific explanation of societal devaluation of groups & individuals

• People who are not valued by society are often surrounded by images of waste

- value

- prejudice

- esteem

- devaluation

- insult


…or just plain thoughtless?

• Waste containers inappropriately located

• Clinical waste containers almost never locked

• No excuses, even when space is limited


In conclusion….• Need for better care with Hazardous Wastes

- safety- service- speed- cooperation & compliance- social issues

• Don’t create new hazards from waste- public health & hygiene- advice for users- occupational safety- effective management- H&S legislation

• Care, and respect for others

• Keep it simple


Managing wastes in the community

• The Laffer curve

The Laffer curve predicts that government can maximize tax revenue by setting tax rates at an optimum point

Taxes too high less money in circulation productivity falls job losses less tax collected

Arthur Betz Laffer SrJohn Maynard

Keynes

• It’s just the same when managing wastes!Too many rules )

Too many restrictions ) Too little compliance

Too many problems )


Ian BlenkharnEnvironmental & Healthcare Microbiology

htpp://www.ianblenkharn.com

http:// home of the clinical waste discussion forum ian blenkharn environmental & healthcare...

Documents

soft waste only5

stated195 slide

fp1011 slide

stated238 slide

healthcare related wastes

green bin wrap soft

community care homes

recycling vehicles