Clinical Waste Policy
Our activities mean we may have contact with people whose
general health at time may cause concern. Consequently, certain
types of waste may pose a threat to health. For that reason the
Registered Manager will ensure that employees carry out risk
assessments to determine what health risks are present in order to
control them.
Waste that could pose a health hazard, in our context, is generally
referred to as clinical waste and includes the following:
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Blood and other body fluids
Surplus or rejected medication
Needles and other sharps
Human tissue
Faeces, urine
Used incontinence pads
Used sanitary towels, tampons
Items contaminated with any of the above examples or any waste
that involves human tissue, human waste products, dressings etc.
as per the above list is clinical waste and must be disposed of as
such. It must not, under any circumstances, be disposed of in the
regular non-clinical waste.
Disposable gloves and aprons are to be worn when handling such
examples as above, including any related spillages.
Clinical waste is to be put directly into yellow bags. Yellow bags
are only to be used for clinical waste.
When a clinical waste bag is 75% full it is to be tied-off securely at
the top and put into the clinical waste designated area. Handle the
bags by their neck only.
Bags are never allowed to be left outside unless there are inside a
closed yellow clinical waste bin since this may encourage pests and
rodents and pose a general health hazard.
NORSACA contract with a suitable contractor who calls on a regular
basis to take away the clinical waste and dispose of the waste as
required by law.
The clinical waste must be kept separate from other waste storage
in a well lit and ventilated place with a solid surface.
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Sharps boxes are never to be disposed of in these clinical waste
bags but collected and disposed of separately.
Document Control
Title: Clinical Waste Policy
Applicable To: All Staff
Date Last Reviewed: October 2010
Procedure Owner: A Hunter
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