How to Dispose of Hospital Supplies to Prevent Infection

As a hospital worker, whether a doctor, nurse, or nurse's aide, you're responsible for maintaining a safe environment for your fellow employees as well as for your patients. One accidental spill or unintended contact with a contaminated object or person could lead to a life-changing injury or disease. That's why it's essential to be extensively trained in the proper way to dispose of hospital supplies. Indeed, you must take the following safety rules very seriously to ensure a safe workplace for all.

Things You'll Need

• Safety gloves
• Safety gown
• Safety glasses
• Disinfectant
• Soap
• Water
• Plastic bins

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Dress safely for the job. As the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network points out, you should wear thick safety gloves. This is to keep your hands from becoming contaminated with any blood, urine, or feces residue that may have come into contact with the medical supplies you are getting rid of. Wear any safety aprons, goggles, boots, or glasses required by your hospital.

• 2

  Use leak-proof containers. According to the PPHSN's Web page, you should place them where patients and hospital staff not only can see them but are most likely to use them. Otherwise, hazardous materials in liquid form, such as blood, can leak onto the hospital floor.

• 3

  Empty the trash bins daily. Transport the trash to the appropriate area for incineration. This is especially necessary for needles or vials that have blood work in them. Tightly seal the trash bins, since the materials inside them could contain HIV, 2009 H1N1, or another dangerous virus.

• 4

  Clean up any spills immediately. Use a broom and a shovel to sweep up the spill.

• 5

  Disinfect the area in which the spill occurred. As the Center for Disease Control points out, you should use bleach, a powerful disinfectant. Pour the bleach into a pail, mix it with water, and scrub the soiled area with it. You should do this daily. According to the CDC's Web page, in handling bleach you should make sure the chlorine smell is present. Once it goes, change the bleach and the water.