Perhaps OSHA should get involved here . . .

[crazylegs]

Even if the vial is plastic not glass, I prefer to throw them in the sharps box for incineration so you don't have "meds in the wild." <Snip> I also don't like to throw glass into the regular trash for fear a shard might cut a housekeeper..

Yep - over here all glass ampoules/vials go in the sharps box for that exact reason, makes sense really because if it goes in clinical waste bags (colour varies by NHS trust/waste disposal route) then cuts someone it's a shitty situation.

[pitmonkey]

"Knock on wood" I have not encountered a sharp in the trash yet. I have found improperly disposed of sharps and let the Powers that Be know about it. It doesn't happen often.

[emt_cookies]

Please, please, PLEASE report this to Infection Control at this hospital. Take pictures to show them. Environmental Services is good, Infection Control is better. IC nurses are pit bulls

They will move swiftly to deal with this, because as you say, this is completely unacceptable.

Not sure what the bag was; it could be an ostomy bag or an antibiotic IV bag.

Sharps . . . omg.

The yellow thingies are called vaccutainers.

They really, really are scary. I used to volunteer there with my ex's mom and they are scary. Doctors, residents, and medical students run to wash their hands the moment they see them. They will walk around the hospital and take pictures too.

You should be able to email or call them.

[Crescent Cat]

Specifically I'm thinking of a case in Nevada where staff in an endoscopy clinic were re-using needles that had been in patients IVs to draw meds from multi use vials that were shared among patients.

How? How do these idiots get into positions in which people's lives depend on them? There needs to be some sort of intelligence/common sense test that people will have to pass before they can even start attending nursing or medical school.

I'm so glad you're teaching, Panacea. It gives me hope that the new crop of nurses will be well educated and smart enough to not pull this kind of bullshit. Just hearing about idiocy of this level makes me so angry. It makes me want to get a job in Infection Control just so that I can strike terror into the hearts of medical staff to pull their heads out of their asses - if only for a second - and not put bio hazardous crap in recycling bins.

[Sapphire Silk]

How? How do these idiots get into positions in which people's lives depend on them? There needs to be some sort of intelligence/common sense test that people will have to pass before they can even start attending nursing or medical school.

I'm so glad you're teaching, Panacea. It gives me hope that the new crop of nurses will be well educated and smart enough to not pull this kind of bullshit. Just hearing about idiocy of this level makes me so angry. It makes me want to get a job in Infection Control just so that I can strike terror into the hearts of medical staff to pull their heads out of their asses - if only for a second - and not put bio hazardous crap in recycling bins.

I know. People get lazy or greedy and start taking short cuts. It never turns out well.

The reason I've never gotten into trouble in my 26 years in this profession is because I'm insistent on doing things the right way.

[emt_cookies]

Also document which recycling bins are having the "issues" like if it is 3AB or ER or Floor X.

[Crescent Cat]

A little bit of an update -

Today I found a package in the bin from L&D's OR. I wasn't quite sure what it was at first. It looked like some sort of sterile/antibiotic gel that's used in minor surgeries. Then I noticed the word "suture" on the package.

Yay! More medical equipment in my bins.

Now it was still sealed so it wasn't contaminated or anything but I did ask a nurse that was walking by exactly what it was. She stated that it was a suture used for C-Sections and that it should've been disposed in sharps. I took it to the head of EVS and explained what I found. I also found a feeding syringe from L&D a few days ago (Sunday) so I took a picture of it with my work phone and showed that to her as well. She said she would talk to the director of L&D about both things I found.

That L&D unit has been very consistent with these types of issues. I'm hoping that a talk from the director will get them in gear.