BioMedical Waste Solutions launches needlestick safety guide

BioMedical Waste Solutions in Bakersfield is promoting safer sharps disposal as needlestick injuries remain a major risk for healthcare workers and people using needles at home. The company’s new guide aims to cut injury and infection risks with practical disposal steps and public guidance.

Why it matters: - Needlestick and sharps injuries can expose healthcare workers and the public to serious infections and long-term health problems. - The CDC estimates about 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries occur among U.S. healthcare workers each year. - OSHA says one-third of sharps injuries happen during disposal, making disposal practices a key prevention point. - The risk extends beyond hospitals because many people use needles at home, including older adults and the 38.4 million Americans with diabetes.

What happened: - BioMedical Waste Solutions, a Bakersfield-based medical waste disposal company, launched The Definitive Guide to Medical Waste Disposal for 2024. - The guide focuses on safe disposal of needles, syringes and other sharp materials. - The company is using the guide to push awareness around the dangers of improper medical waste disposal.

The details: - The CDC figure may undercount the problem because some injuries go undocumented, especially in private homes. - WHO has highlighted sharps injuries as a pathway for transmitting HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. - The release cites annual global infection estimates of nearly 2,005,000 HIV cases, 66,000 hepatitis B cases and 16,000 hepatitis C cases linked to sharps injuries among healthcare workers. - The guide's five recommendations are to use FDA-certified containers, avoid overfilling disposal containers, keep hands out of sharps containers, never recap needles and store sharp objects and containers away from children. - JP Richards, director of communications at BioMedical Waste Solutions, said the guide is meant to help prevent injuries and protect healthcare providers and people who use needles at home. - BioMedical Waste Solutions says it handles medical waste with safe transportation and disposal in line with national, state and local regulations. - The company invites healthcare facilities, professionals and needle users to review the guide online at the medical waste disposal guide or contact the company at 346-660-4994 or JPRichards@BioMedicalWasteSolutions.com.

Between the lines: - The push for a public-facing safety guide suggests medical waste disposal is not just a hospital compliance issue, but a broader home and community safety issue. - The company is positioning education as part of prevention, especially where sharps disposal mistakes can happen outside traditional clinical settings. - The emphasis on certified containers and no-recap guidance reflects standard safety practices aimed at reducing avoidable exposure.

What's next: - BioMedical Waste Solutions is urging healthcare facilities, professionals and household needle users to adopt safer sharps disposal habits. - The company is steering readers to its guide for more detailed disposal instructions and safety advice. - Continued concern over needlestick injuries could keep pressure on healthcare providers and home users to tighten disposal practices.