Case Studies

The Challenge

With the number of current and new drugs on the market delivered through injection by patients themselves, the number of needles ending up in the trash is increasing. For this reason, many states are passing laws that prohibit trash disposal of syringes. Businesses such as malls, department and grocery stores, airports, travel centers, restaurants and individual offices are finding syringes in their restroom trash. Such was the case with one particular national department store chain. They were even experiencing several needlesticks a year. For example, when a trash bag was pulled in one store restroom, an employee was stuck by a needle he never saw. In another instance, the needle had been placed in the sanitary napkin holder in the restroom stall. Store management was not only concerned about the well-being of their associates, but also about customer needlesticks and the potential risk they posed.

The Solution

When discussing solutions, the store's safety committee looked at how to accomplish proper disposal of customers’ used syringes, as well as those from any self-injecting associates. The solution had to be a corporate program, confidential, accessible, compliant in all states, easy to use and manage, and cost effective. In addition to these objectives, a product placed into the store restrooms had to be non-obtrusive. "We don’t want our restrooms to look like a doctor’s office."

"Cost of course was an issue. However, the prevention of just one needlestick and the resulting testing and potential liability would easily pay for the program. With laws in more and more states changing, we knew we couldn't take the risk."

Implementation was simple. Sharps provided each store a system to properly dispose of existing sharps containers, a Sharps Secure® cabinet for the women’s and men’s restrooms and an intro pack to provide onsite backup replacement.

"We chose the stainless steel version of the Sharps Secure. It fits the look of our restrooms, and while it’s labeled to let people know what it’s for, it doesn’t look like a big biohazard!"

In addition Sharps discovered the stores were using the same spill kits for chemical and blood spills, so the stores also purchased the Sharps mailback spill cleanup and disposal system.

The Result

Store customers have commented that they appreciate the opportunity to properly dispose of their syringes while shopping. "It demonstrates to our customers and associates that we care."

The Sharps Secure systems in the restrooms have helped with OSHA compliance as well. "We had several needlesticks that had to be recorded on our injury and illness record last year. With Sharps solutions, we are able to demonstrate to OSHA that we are now taking a proactive approach to reducing the number of needlesticks in our stores."

The Sharps Spill Cleanup and Disposal System provided a simple all-in-one system with not only proper engineering controls, PPE, containment and disposal, but disinfectant to make sure body fluids were thoroughly cleaned up. "We didn’t realize hepatitis B, which could be carried in the blood left on a surface, could live for up to 10 days. And if it isn’t disinfected properly when cleaned up, it could exposure others! The Sharps spill kit allowed us to use the right kit for the right hazard, reducing potential exposure and OSHA violations."