Why are there sharps containers in bathrooms

This action comes at a time when America is experiencing a drug epidemic fueled by the opioid crisis, with , Americans dying from overdoses from to A record amount of Americans were killed by drug overdoses in when 52, people died; then again in when 63, people died; and then again in when 70, people died.

Already a subscriber? Log in or link your magazine subscription. Public restrooms are no exception. Some businesses have been taking measures to prevent injection drug use in these spaces. This has included the installation of blue lights in bathrooms, under the impression that they deter drug use. On the other end of the spectrum, Starbucks recently began a pilot program of installing syringe disposal boxes in some of its bathrooms. The move follows a petition started by Starbucks employees, who are voicing concerns about filthy restrooms and accidental needle pricks on the job.

The petition has gained nearly 5, signatures, while some media reports suggest needle pokes are becoming more prevalent in fast food chain restaurants. The risk of contracting diseases from a used syringe is pretty small. Per WebMD :. Still, the risk is uncomfortable and unnecessary. Those affected are often treated with preventative antiviral drugs with flu-like side effects.

The container must be yellow and marked with both the biohazard symbol and a fill line to ensure the container does not become blocked or overfilled. We provide both compliant sharps containers and robust container outers that can be fixed to a wall. Sharps containers should be fixed to the wall with their opening no less than mm from the ground, as per AS, — Design for access and mobility. This ensures people can access it from both a standing and a seated position, without the risk of children being able to reach the container.

If you have a sharps container in your commercial washroom you will be required to employ a suitable waste disposal contractor to remove used sharps. These contractors must adhere to certain strict conditions to ensure waste is disposed of safely, such as documenting and destroying sharps in a suitable manner.

In high traffic restrooms, such as airports, parks, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, libraries and office buildings, the risk is greater for a needle or sharps puncture by janitorial staff member if there is no place to properly throw the needle or sharp object away. As a result, needlestick injury lawsuits happen.

And, speaking of expense, what you might not realize is…. Both of these black sharps boxes are made from the same a high-density plastic found in professional baseball helmets, so they can hold up well in a gas station or park restroom that may not be checked on a regular basis throughout the day.

Just follow the mailback kit instructions, including signing the manifest on the side of the shipping box, before sending it back via your local US Post Office. The risks of not having a sharps disposal kiosks are numerous, but the remedy is simple, as this editorial notes.