Sharps containers are essential in all public and workplace washrooms where there is a potential risk of needle or sharp object exposure. Not having a proper sharps disposal container can result in serious dangers to individuals and the community, breaching safety regulations. Understanding the importance of safe sharps disposal is therefore significant to providing a safer facility.
Needlestick Injuries
Needlestick injuries occur when the skin is accidentally punctured by sharp objects. Although commonly experienced in a healthcare setting, needlestick injuries can also happen in public spaces where needles are left around carelessly. For instance, waste handlers are at a higher risk of encountering hidden and unsecured sharps if waste is not contained properly.
Furthermore, public areas such as beaches and parks without a proper sharps container are exposed to discarded needles, posing an extreme risk to adults, children, and animals. Aside from the puncture wounds caused by the needles, used sharps are capable of transmitting bloodborne diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. These diseases can lead to severe, long-term medical complications that require extensive treatment.
Community Risks
Sharps can be a threat to the overall community and environment. As previously mentioned, the lack of appropriate disposal containers in public areas such as parks, playgrounds, beaches, and restrooms increases the likelihood of sharps being discarded carelessly. Given that these areas are where families, children, and wildlife frequent, having dangerous needles that potentially carry diseases is an extreme health concern that must be prevented. Additionally, sharps that are discarded inappropriately could end up in rivers and our waterways, posing a direct threat to wildlife and sanitation workers. This ultimately leads to pollution and long-term impacts on our environment.
Practicing Safe Disposal
Providing sharps containers in your facilities is a vital solution to encouraging safe disposal. At Hygiene Concepts, we provide hygiene services, including sharps disposal in Perth that is fully compliant with all government and environmental legislation.
Our sharps containers are designed to be lockable, tamper-proof, and puncture-proof to ensure utmost safety for everyone. Suitable for all public areas and workplaces, it is your hassle-free solution to disposing of dangerous sharps safely, providing you with complete peace of mind.
Contact our team today to find the perfect solution tailored to your needs.
