Needlestick injury risk when handling refuse bags

Alert

Needlestick injury risk when handling refuse bags ( )

Document Type: Alert
Keycode: web only
Industry: Health and Aged Care Sector 
Division Author: Manufacturing, Logistics & Agriculture
Publication Date: 19 December 2005
Date First Published: 19 December 2005
Summary: This alert outlines how to control risks associated with needle stick injuries from handling refuse bags.

The purpose of this Alert is to highlight the potential risk of injury from discarded syringes when handling refuse bags.

It has been released following an incident where a young retail worker received a needlestick injury while handling a plastic bag of rubbish at a fast food outlet. A syringe projected from the plastic bag and pierced the employee's skin.

Trauma involved with needlestick injuries
A needle in a rubbish bag can be contaminated with serious or fatal blood borne infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A person who has received a needlestick injury may have to wait many weeks before testing procedures can prove whether any of these diseases have been contracted or not. This prolonged period waiting for results can impose restrictions on that person's lifestyle and may be stressful.

Is there a risk of a needlestick injury?
Where a workplace is normally accessible to the public, and the contents of refuse bags cannot be identified or controlled, an assessment should be undertaken of the risk of injury when employees handle these bags. Employers need to discuss with employees and health and safety representatives the location, nature and extent of any potential risks, including exposure to needlestick injury.

Preventative measures
The employer has a duty to put in place suitable control measures to prevent injury (see Legal requirements below). If necessary, someone with specialist experience in the safe collection and disposal of rubbish should be contacted for advice. Employees also should be encouraged to contribute ideas on possible risk control solutions.

The following control measures may be implemented where there is a risk of needlestick injury:

• Install sharps containers in toilets.
• Replace plastic bags with impermeable containers that can be secured before handling, such as a plastic wheelie bin with a lid. Care should be taken to not introduce another risk, such as creating a manual handling risk by requiring the bins to be emptied by hand.
• Develop work procedures and train workers in safe handling of refuse.
• Train workers in the safe collection and disposal of syringes found outside refuse bags or bins.
• Provide and maintain personal protective equipment (PPE) for situations in which a risk of needlestick injury has been identified. This type of PPE, such as needle resistant gloves and clothing to minimise syringe penetration, is commercially available (see Further information below for more details).

Legal requirements
Section 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 [OHS Act] requires employers, so far as is reasonably practicable, to provide and maintain for employees a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.

Section 22(2) of the OHS Act requires employers, so far as is reasonably practicable, to employ or engage people qualified in occupational health and safety to provide advice.

Section 35 of the OHS Act requires employers to consult about certain OHS matters, so far as is reasonably practicable, with employees.

Acts and Regulations

• Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004

Acts and regulations are available from Information Victoria on 1300 366 356 or order online at www.bookshop.vic.gov.au.

View the legislation at Victorian Law Today: www.legislation.vic.gov.au.