Patient clothing that is known to be infected/foul must be placed in a red water-soluble bag for use in domestic machines. Seek advice from the laundry to ensure the correct bags are being used.
Used or soiled linen must be placed into a white plastic (non-soluble and non-permeable) bag and tied securely. Infected linen should be placed in a red hot water soluble plastic bag and then into a white outer plastic (non-soluble and non-permeable).
White or Clear Polythene Bags 'Impermeable bags' are bags that a liquid does not leak during transport. Red Soluble Alginate bags 'Water-soluble bags' are (1) bags that dissolve or break apart when processed in a washing machine and/or (2) impermeable bags with a water- soluble seam.
You may have heard this word buzzing around stadiums and concert venues. So what does it mean? This means the arena or event you are attending does not allow entrance into the concert or event with a regular bag but instead you must only use a bag that is clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and does not exceed a certain size.
Clear Bag means clear or translucent bags used for containing food scraps, or recyclables.
It is the responsibility of the person handling linen to ensure that it is segregated appropriately. Soiled and fouled items should be placed into a water-soluble bag(s), (and additionally within a white cotton sack if required) or alternatively placed directly in a white waterproof bag.
Soiled / Infected Linen: Soiled / Infected linen is to be placed in a red soluble bag within a white plastic bag. Any used linen that is soiled with blood or any other bodily fluid or any linen used by a patient with a known infection (whether soiled or not).
Yellow Waste Bags
Infectious or potentially infectious clinical waste contaminated with chemicals or pharmaceutical / medicinal wastes e.g. medicated dressings, iodine dressings, swabs, wipes contrast media.
Yellow biohazard bags are used to dispose of clinical waste like swabs, dressings, tissues, soiled gloves, aprons, pads and nappies. These bags can also be used to collect IV lines and fluid bags used for pharmaceutical medicines, disposable metallic parts and syringe bodies.
The orange bags are intended for heavy duty clinical waste which requires a heat treatment prior to incineration and disposal, unlike yellow bag waste, which just needs to be incinerated.
Foul / Infected linen: Foul – Soiled with body fluids including urine / blood / vomit / faeces.
There are different types of dirty linen1: • Used linen is linen that has been used in patient care but is not visibly soiled. Soiled linen is visibly contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions, i.e., with a high bio-load of microorganisms.
While syringes and chemicals are dangerous, contaminated clothing and soiled linens can be just as deadly. Be sure you have all your Biohazards covered by keeping them well marked with our Contaminated Clothing and Soiled Linens Signs.
Soiled linen is any fabric that is dirtied from food, fluids from the human body, including blood, saliva and vomit, or from other items. To handle soiled linen, treat it the same way you may treat any other biohazard – with care to reduce the risk of injury or cross-contamination.
Red – Soiled Linen
By using this bag throughout a Nursing Home or Hospital, you cut down the linen handling time for your laundry staff, as well as prevent them from handling potentially dirty, soiled laundry.
These include sheets, pillow cases, blankets, towels, curtains, patient garments, uniforms, diapers, compresses, surgical drapes, masks, shoe covers, aprons, caps and cleaning cloths(10). Proper use of linen helps conserve the fabric and enhances user comfort.
Purple bags are used to store cytotoxic and cytostatic waste. These types of clinical waste bags can hold both infectious and non-infectious waste that's contaminated with cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines.
Water-soluble bags are made from a derivative composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and organic plastics (water-soluble synthetic polymer) which dissolve in contact with water.
Cytotoxic waste includes any items that have been contaminated with cytotoxic material. Typically this waste includes drug administration equipment (e.g. swabs, IV drip sets) as well as personal protective equipment such as gowns and gloves.
Opaque bags are intended to visually conceal the contents. However, if you do not find a suitable opaque bag on this page, another consideration is to use one of our clear tamper evident bags, but place the contents inside a standard opaque bag (or envelope) before placing in the clear tamper evident bag.
1) A travelling bag or portmanteau in which to carry a cloak or spare clothes.
A dry bag is designed to keep water out of the interior of the bag, while a waterproof bag creates an airtight seal that blocks out liquid and moist air. Dry bags are typically used for storing items to prevent damage due to accidental exposure to water.