In today’s litigious and cost conscious environment,
can a healthcare facility afford to have their
employees pour suction canisters down a hopper?

The Answer is NO!  Emptying suction canisters into a hopper has many associated risks:

  • Significant employee exposure to aerosolized bloodborne pathogens when the canisters are opened and emptied1.
  • Bacteria is acquired on hands when handling canisters1.
  • Increased expense to ‘protect’ the employee while pouring a canister into the hopper (i.e. cap, mask, goggles, gown, gloves, cleaning agents and time).
  • Increased time and money to ensure employees are following proper disposal guidelines and using personal protective equipment.
  • Increased risk of additional exposure by transporting suction canisters to a ‘safe’ area to empty the canister.
Disposing of fluid waste.

Consider the risk to employees who handle suction canisters as well as the potential cost of post-exposure treatment for the employee.

OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard2

OSHA requires facilities to establish an exposure control plan to minimize or eliminate employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens.  The plan must be updated annually to reflect technological changes that will reduce or eliminate employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens.  Review the OSHA Standard at: www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens

1 Source: 1983 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Microbiology (abstract No. 1091)
2 Source: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1310)