Training For Sharps Collection Workers

18 April 2018
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If you work are about to start work at a garbage removal company which specialises in sharps collection, it is important that you understand how to safely work with sharps. Needles can present a number of hazards to human health if they puncture the skin. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about how training will prepare you to deal with sharps.

Before you or anyone else in your team is allowed to work, it is important to receive training. The training will cover the following areas.

Personal Protection

Each staff member should be briefed on the safety precautions they should take. The training will cover the correct use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles and face masks. Using these items will help to reduce the chance that you will be involved in a needle-stick incident. A needle-stick incident occurs when sharps puncture the skin.

Disposal of Sharp Boxes

It will also cover how to dispose of sharps. Sharps have to be disposed of using specialist sharps boxes. These containers are normally made using thick, yellow-coloured plastic and they typically feature a warning on the side which lets people know that they contain hazardous material. On the top of each container is a narrow slot into which needles can be placed. The slot is designed so that it is one way and so once needles have entered the sharps container they cannot fall out or be retrieved. Once full, sharps containers need to be securely stored until they can be disposed of. A garbage removal company will normally incinerate the container to remove any threat posed by the material inside.

Response to Needle-stick incidents

The training will also cover what your staff should do in the event that they stick themselves on a needle. If you come into contact with a sharp which pierces the skin, you should remain calm and wash the puncture site under running water. This will help to encourage bleeding which helps to reduce the chance of infection. The wound should then be covered with a plaster and the incident reported to your manager. You may later need to undergo further medical testing and treatment depending on the type of material which the sharp has been in contact with. Your local hospital will be able to offer full support.

For more information, you should make contact with a local sharps disposal company.