Safe Handling & Disposal of Sharps

SECTION 1: DETAILS

Purpose &

Scope

This Safe Work Procedure (SWP) describes the safe work methods to be followed when handling and disposing of needles and sharps.  For the purpose of this SWP ‘sharps’ include any object that can pierce or penetrate the skin easily, eg, syringes, needles, razor blades, broken glass or any other sharp implement if not handled in a safe manner. This procedure applies to all employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives of Orange Sky (OS). It is to be read in association with the OS SWPs listed below.

Location of Task

All states and territories throughout Australia and regions throughout New Zealand OS operates in.

Equipment

Required

• Rigid-walled puncture-resistant sharps container

• Disposable impermeable nitrile gloves

• Sharp-resistant gloves (*on shifts identified as higher risk for sharp exposure)

Hazards

The potential risks associated with the handling and disposal of needles/sharps

include:

• Needle stick injury, cuts and lacerations

• Sharp being contaminated with human blood and body fluid or other infectious material. 

Exposure to contaminated blood, body fluids or other infectious material through the piercing or cutting of skin or contact with already broken skin may pose a health risk for transmission of certain infections, including: 

• Tetanus

• Hepatitis B or C virus

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 

Note: All sharps should be considered contaminated unless their origin is known.

Help?

For help, questions or enquiries, call Service Support on: 

• (AU) 0488 851 113  or  (NZ) 09 801 8371

SECTION 2: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) THAT MUST BE WORN

      Enclosed shoes                    Disposable glove                   Puncture-resistant gloves (*if available) 

SECTION 3: OVERVIEW

It is possible you may discover a sharp while on shift. For the purpose of this SWP ‘sharp’ includes any object that can pierce or penetrate the skin eg, syringes, needles, razor blades, broken glass etc.

Sharps may be found on the ground in the vicinity of the van or pod, in washers and dryers (due to laundry not being sorted thoroughly by friends), in rubbish or sanitary bins, in shower recesses.

SECTION 4: SAFE WORK PROCEDURE

   STEP                                       ACTION / TASK

CONTROL MEASURES / PRECAUTIONS

1.

 Handling and Disposal of Sharps

1.1

If a needle or other sharp is discovered in the workplace (on shift, in a washing machine, dryer

etc.,) remain near the object and notify your supervisor and other team members (as appropriate).

• Do not touch the sharp without gloves and a sharps container for safe transport.

• Prevent others from touching the sharp also.

• Ensure one person stays with the sharp at all times.

• Establish a safe zone around the sharp to prevent others coming into contact with it (this may be done by informing others of the sharp object and asking them to maintain a safe distance away).

• Do not take any action until you have informed your Team Leader.

• Do not carry the sharp from the area unless it is in a sharps container.

• Ensure the sharps containers are placed as close as possible to the point of use to ensure sharps are not carried unprotected.

• The safest way to pick up a sharp is to use your hands and immediately wash them afterwards. Disposable impermeable gloves are used as they generally do not interfere with dexterity.

• Important - The use of grabbers, tongs or other implements to pick up sharps increases the risk of injury through uncontrolled flicking of the needle/sharp.

• For shifts where sharp-resistant gloves have been issued, wear them over your disposable gloves to provide added puncture protection during handling.

• Ensure there is space to move and to clearly observe the sharps and your hands.

• Do not hold the sharps container with your free hand.

• Do not try to pick up the sharp object by the sharp end.

• Do not attempt to put the plastic protective cap back on a needle if it has been removed.

• Do not try to separate the needle and syringe before disposal.

• If a syringe barrel is discovered without a needle, place the used syringe, no matter what its contents, into a sharps container.

• Do not pass sharps between persons.

• Do not handle more than one sharp object at a time.

• 
  

• More than one needle/sharp can be placed into the sharps container, but do not overfill.

• Always point needle/sharp away from you.

• Do not overfill sharps containers.

• Ensure that the sharps container is positioned in a location to prevent access by visitors, the public etc.

• Ensure containers are secured to prevent removal as well as access to contents.

• Ensure good infection control by washing your hands.

• Helpful - Alcohol-based hand sanitisers can be used to sanitise your hands when handwashing facilities are not available. However, they do not replace the importance of handwashing with soap and water.

• Never manually empty the contents of a sharps container. 

• Do not dispose of sharps containers in general waste or recycled waste.

• Do not throw needles/sharps down drains because they may then be washed out to other areas.

• Do not throw needles/sharps down toilets

1.2

The second person shall obtain a sharps container (located in all vans).

1.3

Take the sharps container to the sharp object and place it on the ground or a flat surface next to the sharp object.

1.4

While wearing a pair of disposable impermeable gloves and, where applicable, sharp resistant gloves over the top, use your hands to pick up the sharp by the blunt end (or away from the point).

1.5

Put the needle/sharp, point first into the sharps container.

1.6

Make sure the container is tightly sealed.

1.7

Remove gloves and wash your hands with soap and warm water for no less than 20 seconds.

1.8

Dispose of the sharps container at the end of shift at an approved waste disposal facility.

1.9

Complete an Incident Report.

2.

General Sharps Safety

2.1

General safety to prevent sharps

injury.

• Do not place hands or fingers into areas or objects where sharps may be concealed, such as into garbage bags, laundry bags etc.

• Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times when handling any type of sharp object which may be contaminated with blood or body products.

• Always wash hands after removing gloves.

•  Do not manually compress garbage bags.

• Do not hold/carry rubbish bags close too close to the body. 

• Do not hold/carry the base of rubbish bags. 

• Collect “sharps” with hands rather than with grabbers, tongs or other implements.

3.

Responding to and Managing a Needlestick or Sharps Injury

3.1

Administer appropriate first aid for any bleeding or embedded object.

• Wear disposable gloves.

• Gain assistance from a first aider on shift or service provider first aider.

3.2

Wash the wound or skin sites thoroughly with soap and water or use a waterless cleanser or

antiseptic if water is unavailable.

• Apply a waterproof dressing as necessary, and apply pressure through the dressing if bleeding is still occurring. Do not squeeze or rub the injury site.

3.3

If blood or blood products make contact with eyes, rinse the eyes gently but thoroughly (remove contact lenses), for at least 30 seconds, with water or normal saline.

3.4

If blood or body fluids are sprayed into the mouth, spit out and then rinse the mouth with water several times.

3.5

If any clothing is contaminated, remove items and shower if necessary and available.

3.6

Identify the source individual or the source of the sharp, if possible and assess the risk status of

the source.

3.7

Orange Sky staff and volunteers who sustain a sharps injury must report the injury to their supervisor and complete an Incident Report.

3.8

Orange Sky staff and volunteers who sustain a sharps injury must attend a general practitioner (GP) for assessment, advice and, if necessary, counselling.

• The medical practitioner will assess the level of risk to determine further medical management.

3.9

If the source is unable to be identified, follow-up will depend on the type of exposure, the likelihood of the source being positive for a blood pathogen and the prevalence of blood-borne

infections in the community from which the needle/sharps come.