Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Anatomical waste
- Waste containing recognisable body tissue, including nail, which must be disposed of separately.
- Blood-borne virus
- An infection carried in blood, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV, which can be passed on by a sharps injury.
- Consignment note
- The paperwork proving that hazardous waste was collected by a licensed contractor and disposed of lawfully.
- COSHH
- The rules covering work with substances hazardous to health, including dusts and biological agents.
- Duty of care (waste)
- The legal obligation to make sure waste is handled, stored and disposed of properly from creation to final disposal.
- Health surveillance
- Regular checks on staff health where the work carries a risk of a specific illness, such as occupational asthma.
- Inoculation injury
- An injury where a contaminated sharp breaks the skin.
- Local exhaust ventilation
- Extraction that captures dust at the point it is produced, before it can be breathed in.
- Offensive waste
- Non-infectious waste that is unpleasant, such as dressings from a clean wound, with its own disposal stream.
- Post-exposure prophylaxis
- Treatment given soon after a possible exposure to reduce the chance of infection taking hold.
- Recapping
- Putting the cover back on a used needle, which is prohibited because it causes injuries.
- Residual risk
- The risk that is left once the existing controls are working.
- Respirable dust
- Dust fine enough to be breathed deep into the lungs.
- RIDDOR
- The regulations requiring certain workplace injuries and dangerous events to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
- Safer sharps device
- An instrument designed with a built-in guard or retracting blade to reduce the chance of injury.