AS 4031—1992

Australian Standard
This is a free 4 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Non-reusable containers for the

collection of sharp medical items
used in health care areas
[Title allocated by Defence Cataloguing Authority:
COLLECTION DISPOSAL CONTAINERS FOR HEALTH CARE
EQUIPMENT — NSC 6530]
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee HT/1, Hypodermic and Other
Equipment for General Medical Use. It was approved on behalf of the Council of
Standards Australia on 14 April 1992 and published on 13 July 1992.

The following interests are represented on Committee HT/1:

Alfred Hospital, Vic.
Australian Chamber of Commerce
Australian Medical Association
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Department of Commercial Services, N.S.W.

Department of Health, Housing and Community Services (Commonwealth)
Medical Industry Association of Australia
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Vic.
Victorian Hospitals Association
Additional interests participating in preparation of Standard:
Australian Confederation of Operating Room Nurses
Consultants
Manufacturers of ‘sharps’ containers
University of New South Wales
Victorian Waste Management Association

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to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new edit ions as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest editi on, and any
amendments thereto.
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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 91104.

 AS 4031—1992

Australian Standard
This is a free 4 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Non-reusable containers for the

collection of sharp medical items
used in health care areas

First publi shed as AS 4031—1992.

Incorporating:
Amdt 1—1996

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 7491 7
 AS 4031—1992 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Hypodermic and Other
Equipment for General Medical Use, under the direction of the Multitechnics Standards Policy
Board.
Cognisance has been taken of BS 7320:1990, Specification for sharps containers, in the development
of this Standard.
The committee deliberated at length on the minimum penetration resistance of 12.5 N specified in
Clause 6.2. This value was arrived at having regard to BS 7320, the draft Canadian Standard and
local testing.
Reusable containers are not dealt with in this Standard, nor are ‘personal use’ (i.e. a container
holding the equivalent of ten 1 mL syringes) non-reusable ‘sharps’ containers issued in needle
exchange programs. However, such containers should at least meet the requirements for impact
resistance and resistance to penetration in this Standard.
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CONTENTS
Page
1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .... . . .. .. 3
2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .... . . .. .. 3
3 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ... . . . .. . . 3
4 MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. 3
5 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .... . . .. .. 3
6 PHYSICAL TESTS . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. 3
7 COLOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . .. .. 3
8 MARKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. 4

APPENDICES

A METHOD OF TEST FOR HANDLE INTEGRITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. 5

B METHOD FOR DETERMINING IMPACT RESISTANCE . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. 6
C METHOD FOR DETERMINING RESISTANCE TO PENETRATION . .. . . . .. 7
D METHOD FOR DETERMINING TOPPLING RESISTANCE . . . . . . . .. .. . .. 8

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AS 4031-1992, Non-reusable containers for the

collection of sharp medical items used in health
care areas
This is a free 4 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

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