All healthcare waste generated in this practice will be managed according to the following policy to ensure staff safety and to meet our legislative requirements.
- Clinical waste generated from patients who are known or assessed to be infectious by the clinician is classified as ‘hazardous’ waste, segregated from other clinical waste and placed in Orange sacks.
Clinical waste not deemed infectious is classified as ‘offensive’ waste. - Dental amalgam, lead foil and developer and fixer solutions are disposed of as hazardous waste by the registered waste carrier appointed by the practice.
- All clinical waste sacks must be no more than three-quarters full, have the air gently squeezed out to avoid bursting when handled by others, labelled according to the type of waste and tied at the neck, not knotted
- Sharps waste (needles and scalpel blades etc) are disposed of in UN type approved puncture-proof containers (to BS 7320), and labelled to indicate the type of waste
- Sharps containers will be disposed of when no more than two-thirds full
- Clinical waste and sharps waste must be stored securely in the areas provided before collection for final disposal
- Clinical waste is collected for disposal by the registered waste carrier appointed by the practice who will hold a certificate of registration with the Environment Agency
- An annual ‘Duty of Care’ Waste Transfer Note completed and signed by both parties must be held. The transfer note provides the dentist with evidence that the waste will be disposed of in the correct manner. Repeated transfers of the same kind of waste between the same parties can be covered by one transfer note for up to one year. This must be kept for two years after it expires. Each time a collection of offensive waste is made a receipt will be received and kept by the practice.
- Each time a hazardous waste is collected a hazardous waste consignment note should be received and kept by the practice.
- All staff involved in handling clinical waste should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. All relevant staff will be trained in the handling, segregation, and storage of all healthcare waste generated in the practice.