COSHH - Sharps Disposal (Sharpsmart Bins)

COSHH RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Sharps Disposal (Sharpsmart Bins)

HAUS OF ÄSTHETIK

 

Location: 4 Portland Square, Water Street, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1HA, United Kingdom

Date of Assessment: 1st April 2025

Review Date: 1st April 2026

Assessed By: Managing Director

 

1. Substance/Item Information

   • Product Name: Sharpsmart Sharps Disposal Bins

   • Manufacturer: Sharpsmart Ltd.

   • Supplier: [Insert Supplier Name]

   • COSHH Safety Data Sheet Available? ☑ Yes ☐ No

• Hazard Classification (per SDS):

   • ☑ Risk of needle-stick injury

   • ☑ Contamination risk from infectious bodily fluids

   • ☑ Risk of cross-contamination if improperly handled

 

2. Purpose of Use

   • Location of Use: Clinic treatment rooms, clinical waste storage area

   • How is the item used? Secure disposal of needles, syringes, and sharp medical instruments

   • Who is exposed? Practitioners, clinic staff, waste disposal personnel

   • Frequency of Use: Daily

 

3. Hazard Identification

• Potential Hazards:

   • ☑ Needle-stick injuries leading to risk of bloodborne infections (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV)

   • ☑ Risk of cross-contamination if improper disposal or spillage occurs

   • ☑ Injury from overfilled sharps containers leading to puncture risk

   • ☑ Manual handling injury when transporting heavy containers

   • ☑ Chemical hazard from residual medications in syringes (e.g., botulinum toxin, lidocaine)

• Symptoms of Exposure:

   • Needle-stick injury symptoms: Puncture wound, potential infection risk

   • Exposure to bodily fluids: Redness, irritation, or infection risk

   • Improper handling of heavy bins: Musculoskeletal strain

 

4. Risk Control Measures

A. Safe Handling & Usage

   • ☑ Only approved Sharpsmart bins to be used in clinic rooms

   • ☑ Bins must be closed securely when three-quarters full to prevent overfilling

   • ☑ Needles must not be recapped before disposal to reduce accidental needle-stick injuries

   • ☑ Never attempt to retrieve items once inside the sharps bin

B. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Required

   • ☑ Disposable gloves when handling or transporting sharps bins

   • ☑ Plastic aprons when disposing of multiple sharps

   • ☑ Eye protection if there is a risk of splashes or contamination

C. Spill & Incident Management

• Needle-stick Injury Procedure:

   • ☑ Encourage bleeding immediately without squeezing

   • ☑ Wash the area with soap and warm water

   • ☑ Apply antiseptic and cover with a sterile dressing

   • ☑ Report the injury immediately to management

   • ☑ Seek medical attention for bloodborne infection assessment

• Spillage Procedure:

   • ☑ Do not attempt to manually pick up sharps – use forceps or a sharps spill kit

   • ☑ Dispose of contaminated material into a new sharps bin

   • ☑ Decontaminate the affected area with approved disinfectant

D. Waste Disposal & Storage

   • ☑ Sharpsmart bins must be locked before removal from clinic rooms

   • ☑ Stored in the designated locked bin area (Portland Square, Bakewell) before collection

   • ☑ All waste disposal follows HTM 07-01 and Environmental Agency guidelines

   • ☑ Sharps bins collected by licensed waste contractor (Sharpsmart) as per clinical waste regulations

 

5. Emergency Procedures

• First Aid Measures:

   • ☑ For Needle-stick Injuries: Follow NHS bloodborne exposure protocol (seek medical evaluation immediately)

   • ☑ For Contact with Bodily Fluids: Wash affected area immediately, report exposure

   • ☑ For Overfilled or Spilled Bins: Secure area, prevent access, report to clinic manager

 

6. Risk Assessment Summary

• Overall Risk Level (After Controls Applied):

   • ☑ Low (if safely handled and disposed of properly)

   • ☐ Medium

   • ☐ High

   • Are the current controls sufficient? ☑ Yes ☐ No

   • Additional Control Measures Required? ☐ Yes ☑ No

 

7. Monitoring & Training Requirements

   • ☑ All clinic staff handling sharps disposal must undergo training on COSHH compliance and infection control

   • ☑ Regular checks to ensure bins are not overfilled

   • ☑ Annual review or update if new sharps disposal systems are introduced