Which of the following color coded bag is used for discarded needle for BMW management?

Appeared in: NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)

Explanation

According to the Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) Management Rules, 2016, discarded needles are classified as 'waste sharps'.
Waste sharps have the potential to cause punctures and cuts, posing a high risk of injury and infection.
Therefore, they must be segregated at the point of generation into a designated white container that is translucent, puncture-proof, leak-proof, and tamper-proof.
This specific container is designed to prevent needlestick injuries during handling, storage, and transportation.

Option A: The yellow bag is used for human anatomical waste, soiled dressings, expired medicines, and microbiology waste. Placing sharp needles in a plastic bag would pose a significant risk of puncture and injury.
Option B: The red bag is designated for contaminated recyclable waste, such as plastic tubing, IV sets, catheters, and syringes without the needle. Needles are explicitly excluded.
Option D: Under the current BMW Management Rules (2016), black bags are used for general, non-biohazardous waste, similar to household waste (e.g., paper, food wrappers). They are not used for any form of medical waste.

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Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Biomedical Waste Management (BMW) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper sharps disposal is a fundamental aspect of nurse and patient safety, directly preventing needlestick injuries, which can transmit over 20 blood-borne pathogens, including HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
Nurses are responsible for ensuring sharps containers are available at the point of use, are not overfilled (never more than 3/4 full), and are replaced when necessary.
A breach in protocol, such as discarding a needle in a red or yellow bag, creates a serious hazard for downstream workers (housekeeping, waste handlers) who may not expect sharps in those containers.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key item in the question: 'discarded needle'.
Recall or determine the category of waste a needle belongs to. A needle is a 'sharp' because it can puncture the skin.
Access your knowledge of the Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) Management color-coding system.
Systematically evaluate the options: Yellow bag is for anatomical/soiled waste, Red bag is for plastic recyclables (without sharps), and Black is for general waste.
Conclude that the only appropriate option for sharps like needles is the specialized 'Puncture proof white container' designed to prevent injury.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.