Anaheim waste firm pushes sharps safety guide as needlestick injuries rise

BioMedical Waste Solutions is urging safer needle disposal as CDC, WHO and OSHA figures underscore the risk of sharps injuries for healthcare workers and people who use needles at home. The Anaheim company has released a medical waste guide with practical steps aimed at preventing injuries and infections.

Why it matters: - Needlestick and sharps injuries can spread serious infections and cause long-term health complications, including disability and death. - The risk extends beyond hospitals into private homes, where many people use needles daily. - Safe disposal practices can reduce injuries to healthcare workers, patients and the public.

What happened: - BioMedical Waste Solutions, a medical waste disposal company with locations in Anaheim, California, launched The Definitive Guide to Medical Waste Disposal in 2024. - The guide focuses on safe disposal of needles, syringes and other sharp objects. - The company is using the guide to warn about the dangers of improper medical waste disposal. - A company resource page is available here.

The details: - The CDC estimates about 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries occur each year among U.S. healthcare workers. - The CDC figure is likely an underestimate because of underreporting, especially in private homes. - The release says 38.4 million Americans with diabetes depend on needles daily. - The WHO has linked sharps injuries to annual infection cases among healthcare workers of about 2,005,000 HIV cases, 66,000 hepatitis B cases and 16,000 hepatitis C cases. - OSHA reports that one-third of sharps injuries happen during disposal. - The guide recommends using FDA-approved sharps containers. - The guide says sharps containers should never be filled beyond capacity. - The guide says users should never place hands into disposal containers. - The guide says used needles should be disposed of immediately without recapping. - The guide says sharp objects and disposal containers should be stored properly and kept away from children. - JP Richards, director of communications at BioMedical Waste Solutions, said the company sees the rise in needlestick injuries as a concern for both healthcare workers and people using needles at home.

Between the lines: - The focus on home needle use points to a broader public-health issue, not just an occupational safety problem. - The timing suggests BioMedical Waste Solutions is trying to position educational content as both a safety tool and a service differentiator. - The release leans on CDC, WHO and OSHA data to make the case that disposal habits matter as much as the needles themselves.

What's next: - BioMedical Waste Solutions is directing healthcare facilities, professionals and individuals who use needles to use the guide for disposal help. - The company says the information is intended to align with national, state and local standards for handling, transportation and disposal. - People seeking more information can call 346-660-4994 or email JPRichards@BioMedicalWasteSolutions.com.