Clinical waste


I, Robot: Sorting out sharps containers


With the help of its automated wash-line and robotics technology, medical waste disposal specialist, SRCL helps healthcare workers to reduce the number of needlestick injuries resulting from incorrectly assembled and overfilled sharps containers. Keerti Baker reports.


Keerti Baker PR and communications executive, SRCL


I


N MAY 2010, a European Directive was introduced to prevent injuries and blood-borne infections to healthcare workers from sharp objects such as needle sticks (http://www.hse. gov.uk/healthservices/needlesticks/


eu-directive.htm). This year, member states of the EU,


including the UK, will have until May 11, 2013, to ensure that the provisions of the directive have been implemented into national legislation. With increasing pressures on healthcare


organisations to manage the disposal of sharps in a way that minimises injuries to healthcare workers, solutions by specialist waste management companies need to consider these objectives in addition to the constantly looming demands of tightening costs and increasing sustainability. One such organisation is using their


experience in the US to bring technology to the UK to sustainably manage key elements of safe sharps disposal. “Following successful operation in the


US via our parent company, Stericycle, and studies on the effectiveness of it, we launched a sharps management service in the UK to deal with sharps disposal in a safe and sustainable manner,” says John Johnston, SRCL’s managing director. “Since November 2012, our validated disinfection process featuring an automated wash line replaces the need to dispose of a sharps container after just one use, and instead, increases the re-use of containers up to 600 times each.” “As part of our managed service for clinical


waste producers, trained technicians deliver, locate, collect and exchange sharps bins from customer premises, thus reducing the need for staff to handle the bins and put themselves at a risk of a needlestick injury,” adds Johnston.


Automated wash-line The containers with the sharps waste are then taken to a treatment facility where they are opened, emptied and disinfected using an automated wash-line that is operated with robotics’ technology. Finally, the containers are meticulously


inspected before they are returned to customers in a ready-to-use condition. Stuart Budd, SRCL’s head of environment,


safety and health says: “As sharps waste from a healthcare activity containing or contaminated with a blood borne pathogen could pose serious risks to healthcare workers handling or disposing the waste, proper management of this activity is essential.” Not too dissimilar to an advanced car


assembly line in many ways, this robotic system and way of managing sharps waste makes a big difference to overall carbon reduction as containers are used up to 600 times as opposed to the traditional route of being disposed of after a single use. The reduction in associated packaging for


single-use containers and transport costs are also significant contributions to sustainability goals and reducing greenhouse gases. Natalie Gee, SRCL’s products manager picks


up the story: “Preventing needlestick injuries is a constant aim for health trusts. “Even one needlestick injury is deemed


too many and the sharps management service helps minimise risk. This, coupled with the environmental advantage of reusing the containers, provides all around benefits.” “In implementing the sharps management


service, SRCL trained staff undertake an assessment of customer facilities to develop a sharps management schedule. The team also undertakes training with frontline staff to address any questions and to reinforce the site’s own sharps policy.” “It’s paramount that users are confident that


the reusable sharps containers are safe and cleaned to the highest standards.


Established US technology “Our new process is bringing established technology from the US that is backed up by research into


Twin robots work in synchronisation to detect containers’ sizes by measuring their height and width


the effectiveness of it. A survey conducted by an independent market consultant in 52 US hospitals using the service showed 77% of customers reported that needlestick incidents dropped to 0-1 per year. “Regarding safety outcomes, 85% of


hospital staff responded that they “strongly agreed/agreed” that using the sharps management service increased safety outcomes in their facility due to the proactive exchange of the Bio Systems reusable containers. “By eliminating the need for hospital staff


to handle the container exchange, it directly decreased staff exposure to injury, and 91% of respondents “strongly agreed/agreed” that using the sharps management service with Bio Systems reusable containers is a clinical best practice. Furthermore, time that is spent by staff organising sharps disposal and the assembly of containers can instead be spent on patient care,” adds Gee. How does this new technology by SRCL


work and what makes it so effective? Paul Simpson, SRCL’s general manager


at its Leeds facility, explains: “Also known as Bio Systems, each SRCL reusable sharps container is uniquely bar coded. Upon arrival at their treatment plant, the bar codes on the Bio Systems containers are scanned and then loaded onto the company’s new automated wash line with a two-part conveyor system.” Twin robots work in perfect timing to detect


the container’s size by measuring its height and width and then remove the lid. Sharps waste is decanted into a separate large 770 litre bin before the Bio Systems containers are put through a cold pre-wash to remove any solids. They are then placed in one of the five washer lanes, depending on their size. A three-stage disinfection process that


operates at varying temperatures, washes, sanitises and finally dries the Bio Systems container. Once the process is complete, the containers undergo rigorous quality checks


6 January 24 2013 www. r e c y c l i n gwa s t ewo r l d . c o . u k


before they are re-assembled, ready for supply back to the customers.


Infection control Simpson says: “Ensuring effective infection control is one of the main issues for healthcare staff when it comes to reusable sharps containers. SRCL’s disinfection process has been independently validated by microbiological experts and is continuously monitored and computer controlled to ensure that all Bio Systems containers are disinfected.” Budd again: “All our Bio Systems


containers are inspected to ensure that they exceed all quality, transportation and health and safety standards in accordance with our ISO9001 and ISO14001 management systems. “As part of these quality checks we


randomly swab a percentage of containers to confirm that all blood contamination has been fully removed by the process providing further reassurance to our customers that our Bio Systems containers have been cleaned to the highest standards.” More recently, a HSE inspection initiative


of 22 NHS organisations (published in November 2012) describes how less than half of the organisations inspected undertook proactive monitoring to ensure that controls to prevent sharps injuries were implemented and that the controls were working. Of those organisations that did monitor proactively, a reduction of injuries could be demonstrated. “Although this is only a very small


sample of NHS organisations it demonstrates the importance of a proactive approach to minimising the number of needlestick injuries. SRCL’s sharps management service, as part of a hospital’s integrated approach to managing risk, will help to reduce the number of needlestick injuries resulting from incorrectly assembled and overfilled sharps containers,” states Budd.


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