Reducing Needlestick Injury: How to Properly Dispose of Needles

Needlestick injuries are a persistent challenge in healthcare settings, posing significant risks to worker safety and organizational budgets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries occur annually among hospital-based healthcare personnel. 

The physical, financial, and emotional costs of these injuries are considerable. Accidental exposure to bloodborne pathogens like HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C is a constant threat. Workers often experience fear, anxiety, and stress about exposure to hazardous materials. Healthcare organizations must cover direct costs, such as medical evaluations, testing, and treatment for injured workers.

High-risk working conditions can drive higher turnover rates as employees seek environments where their safety is prioritized. Additionally, healthcare organizations that don’t know how to properly dispose of needles may face legal and compliance challenges if they fail to implement effective risk mitigation strategies.

This combination of tangible and intangible costs highlights the urgent need for better needle disposal practices.

The Role of Effective Sharps Disposal in Injury Prevention

Proper handling and disposal of sharps are critical to reducing the risk of needlestick injuries in healthcare settings. Effective sharps disposal protocols protect workers from potential exposure to dangerous pathogens and contribute to a safer, more efficient workplace. By prioritizing proper procedures, healthcare organizations can minimize the likelihood of accidents and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Many medical waste disposal systems currently fall short of the necessary protective measures. A common weakness is the over-reliance on manual processes, which require workers to handle sharps directly and increase the risk of needlestick injuries. Additionally, many disposal systems use inefficient or unsafe containment methods that fail to fully isolate the hazard, leaving workers vulnerable to accidental exposure.

Addressing these shortcomings through advanced, automated disposal systems will support a safer healthcare environment and prevent sharps-related injuries.

How the Ozone Medical Waste Treatment System (OMW) Can Help

The Ozone Medical Waste Treatment System (OMW) offers a cutting-edge solution to the challenges of sharps disposal. Unlike traditional systems, OMW uses industrial-strength shredders that render all medical waste, including sharps, completely unrecognizable. This process is followed by sterilization using a proprietary ozone formula, which eliminates pathogens and other contamination risks.

OMW is a hands-off operation that minimizes human contact with hazardous materials. Healthcare organizations implementing this system can protect workers from physical harm and give staff members confidence that they will not be exposed to harmful pathogens.

In addition to enhancing safety, OMW is a cost-effective solution. On-site disposal eliminates the need for expensive waste transport services and reduces financial costs associated with sharps injuries.

Improving Sustainability Efforts with EcoSharps Recycling & OMW 

By processing sharps waste on-site with OMW, hospitals can adopt reusable sharps containers, such as EcoSharps by Clean Waste Systems. These FDA 510(k)-cleared containers are puncture-resistant and designed for 600 use and sterilization cycles, reducing the reliance on single-use plastics and decreasing the volume of medical waste sent to landfills.

On-site OMW sterilization further enhances sustainability by eliminating the need to transport and incinerate most medical waste—two practices that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Hospitals using OMW can dramatically reduce their environmental footprint while improving operational efficiency.

The combination of OMW and EcoSharps empowers medical facilities to reduce waste and achieve sustainability goals, regardless of their size. With scalability ranging from hospitals with 200 beds to those with over 2,000, OMW adapts to diverse needs, making it a practical solution for many hospitals seeking to centralize waste processing.

Take Action to Protect Your Staff and Bottom Line

Knowing how to properly dispose of needles can help healthcare facilities avoid serious and costly issues. From direct medical expenses to indirect results like reduced productivity, increased turnover, and legal liabilities, needlestick injuries strain staff and budgets.

Clean Waste Systems’ Ozone Medical Waste Treatment System offers a powerful solution to these challenges. The advanced shredding and ozone sterilization process eliminates pathogens while the system complies with strict healthcare safety standards. OMW is a sustainable, cost-effective approach to waste management that cuts external disposal costs and reduces environmental pollution.

Take the first step toward a safer medical waste solution for your organization. Contact Clean Waste Systems today to learn more and get an ROI analysis.