Survey on Insulin Needles Inappropriately Discarded in Shinkansen Trains: Measures to Prevent Needlestick Accidents by Train Cleaning Staff

DOI
  • Sugito Motoko
    Tokyo Health Care Office, Health Care Center, Central Japan Railway Company First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Okada Yosuke
    First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Torimoto Keiichi
    First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Enta Kazuhiko
    Health Care Center, Central Japan Railway Company
  • Tanaka Yoshiya
    First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health

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  • 新幹線車内に不適切に廃棄されたインスリン注射針の実態調査～鉄道清掃員の針刺し事故防止対策～

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<p>The inappropriate disposal of insulin needles is becoming a social problem. Similarly, insulin needles are occasionally encountered by staff cleaning Tokaido Shinkansen trains. A cleaning company investigated the actual situation of inappropriate insulin needle disposal on Tokaido Shinkansen trains. The cleaning staff on Tokaido Shinkansen trains found 97 insulin needles from April 2013 to March 2014, 153 insulin needles from April 2014 to March 2015, and 170 insulin needles from April 2015 to March 2016. They investigated the locations of the insulin needles from April 2015 to March 2016. Insulin needles were found in the restrooms (51 %), on floors (32 %), near seats (8 %), and in washrooms (7 %). Although insulin needles were found every other day on Tokaido Shinkansen trains, only 1 case of needlestick accident occurred among the cleaning company staff. We considered that this low incidence was due to employee training. Needlestick accidents cannot be completely prevented as long as the inappropriate disposal of insulin needles continues. We hope that doctors and nurses make good use of the results of our investigation.</p>

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