Hazardous Substances
In the health and community services you may use and handle hazardous substances such as cleaning products, detergents, disinfectants, medical supplies and medical waste.
Chemicals and hazardous substances in the workplace need not be dangerous if used safely. Awareness of possible risks, even from ordinary substances, can help prevent sickness, discomfort and injury.
It is important that your supervisor makes sure you use hazardous substances according to the manufacturers or supplier's written instructions (the Material Data Safety Sheet or MSDS) and the agreed safe work procedures for your workplace. If you need more information on the substances that you are using, ask your supervisor or safety and health representative.
To reduce the risk your employer can sometimes substitute a non hazardous cleaning product. You may need to wear gloves when handling and using some chemical cleaning products. Your employer should provide protective gloves.
Medical waste
Your employer should make sure medical waste is handled safely. Safe work procedures include the following:
medical waste should be stored in a weather-proof, secure location, isolated from other wastes and in a safe manner so that it does not pose a hazard to people or the environment;
sharps (i.e. objects or devices having sharp points capable of cutting or piercing the skin) should be placed in a suitable container that is puncture resistant, leak-proof, clearly coloured, labelled and capable of being sealed when full and it should also carry the biohazard symbol recognised worldwide and adopted for use in Australia;
Caution, biological hazardmedical waste should be stored in a clean, leak-proof, clearly labelled container suitable for transport to a disposal site;
biological specimens should be incinerated;
people responsible for collecting medical waste should be authorised by the Health Department;
pharmaceutical products should be disposed of as for medical waste; and .
reusable containers should be thoroughly cleaned prior to use.
