WST-SOP-001: Sharps and Clinical Waste Management

At a glance

• Put sharps straight into a sharps container at the point of use. Never recap, bend or break needles.
• Close the container when it is two-thirds full. Label it with the date and your initials.
• Segregate clinical waste by category in the colours set by the hospital.
• Keep the waste store locked, labelled and clean. Collections are recorded on WST-FRM-001.
• If you are injured by a sharp, wash the wound, report at once, and follow the occupational health procedure.
• Stop and get help straight away if: a container is overfilled or cannot be closed, a collection is missed, or a spill is larger than the spill kit can manage.

Step 1. Segregate at the point of use.

• Identify the waste category for each item before you dispose of it.
• Put sharps directly into the sharps container, immediately after use.
• Put infectious, anatomical and other categories into the correct bags and bins.

Key point: Segregation at the source is the control. Sorting later is less safe and less reliable.

Step 2. Handle sharps safely.

• Do not recap the needle. If a recap is unavoidable, use the scoop technique only if the hospital allows it (EC).
• Dispose of the whole device, not only the needle, into the container where the device is designed for it.
• Do not force a sharp into a full container. Stop and change the container.

Key point: Most sharps injuries happen during recapping and disposal. The safest action is to not handle the sharp after use.

Step 3. Close and label the container when two-thirds full.

• Close the container lid securely.
• Write the date, ward or department, and your initials on the label.
• Put the closed container in the designated waste store, or in the collection point.
• Replace with a new container at once.

Key point: Two-thirds full (EC) prevents overfilling and reduces the risk of a sharps injury at the lid.

Step 4. Move waste to the waste store.

• Move waste at least once each working day, or as the hospital schedule sets.
• Use a trolley or cart with a lid. Do not carry containers in the arms or open trays.
• Keep the store locked when unattended.

Key point: Waste that waits on the ward is a risk for patients and cleaners.

Step 5. Keep the waste store clean and controlled.

• Check the store at the start of each shift for overflow, spills and locks.
• Clean the store according to the cleaning schedule.
• Keep food, drink and personal items out of the store.

Key point: The store is a controlled area, not a corridor.

Step 6. Record each collection.

• When the contractor collects, record the date, weight or volume, the contractor’s licence number and the manifest or certificate on WST-FRM-001.
• File the manifest or certificate in the waste file.

Key point: The record proves the waste left the hospital lawfully and was disposed of correctly.

Step 7. If a sharps injury occurs.

• Wash the wound with soap and water immediately. Do not squeeze to make it bleed.
• Report to the ward head and occupational health at once, the same shift.
• Follow the post-exposure procedure set by occupational health (EC).
• Complete an incident report (INC-POL-001).

Key point: Time matters for post-exposure treatment. Report immediately, even if the risk seems low.

Step 8. If a spill occurs.

• Secure the area and keep people away.
• Put on gloves and eye protection. Use the spill kit as trained.
• Collect sharps with forceps or a scoop, into a sharps container. Dispose of the cleaning materials as clinical waste.
• Report the spill to the ward head and record it.

Key point: A spill is a sharps risk until the sharps are removed.