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Managing waste: safety and waste management training provisions

Tudor, T. L. (2015) Managing waste: safety and waste management training provisions. European Medical Hygiene. 9, pp. 8-15.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: The incorrect management of healthcare waste can have significant potential public health, environmental and financial costs (Tudor et al, 2008a). A key risk to healthcare workers is injury from handling ‘sharps’ (e.g. needles and glass) waste (DH, 2013; Patwary et al, 2012). The HPA (2008) noted that needle stick injuries were the most commonly reported type of injury of significant exposure: 63% resulted from hollow bore needles, 19% were from solid needles and 13% from other sharps such as scalpels and dental probes. Most incidents took place in the wards (36%), theatre (17%), accident and emergency (13%). Some 45% of the injuries occurred among nursing staff, with 37% among medical staff. Only 2% took place among ancillary staff, but most of these resulted from inappropriate discarding of needles in waste bags. Using a case study approach within the National Health Service (NHS) in London, this paper examines training provision for health and safety and waste management for clinical staff, during training, as well as on the job.
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences > GE300 Environmental management
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC963 Industrial medicine. Industrial hygiene
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA565 Environmental health > RA567.7 Medical wastes
T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering > TD1020 Hazardous substances and their disposal
Creators: Tudor, Terry L
Publisher: Bay Publishing Ltd
Northamptonshire and East Midlands: Environment
Health
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: Faculties > Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology > Environmental Science
Date: 4 March 2015
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 8-15
Journal or Publication Title: European Medical Hygiene
Volume: 9
Language: English
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/7491

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