Legal regulation of clinical waste in the community.
The European Union has led the way in regulating the management of waste and has compelled member states, including the United Kingdom, to introduce legislation to ensure that risks to public health and the environment from waste is minimized. Waste management is now highly regulated and it is essential that district nurses comply with the regulations when disposing of waste produced in the course of treating patients. This article describes how the health and safety, waste and carriage legislation governs how district nurses handle clinical and hazardous waste in the community.
Griffith
Richard
R
Health Law, School of Health Science, University of Wales, Swansea, Wales, UK. richard.griffith@swan.ac.uk
Tengnah
Cassam
C
D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000145:classification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000145:classification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017751:Safety Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
D006256:Hazardous Waste; D008506:Medical Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal