Smarter Healthcare Webinar: The Story Behind ISO 23907-2
Why does sharps container design matter? What does ISO compliance mean for the safety of healthcare providers? Why did reusable sharps containers need a separate global standard?
We explore these questions and more in our latest on-demand Smarter Healthcare webinar, ‘The Story Behind ISO 23907-2 and What It Means for Healthcare Worker Safety.’
Featuring Neil Robinson, Strategic Consultant to Sharpsmart and British Standards representative on the ISO 23907 committee, this session goes far beyond the technicalities. It looks at the human, operational and governance realities behind safer sharps containment – and why ISO 23907-2 is considered the gold standard for reusable sharps containers.
TOPICS WE WILL COVER:
2 / Why This Conversation Matters
3 / Key Themes Covered in the Webinar
4 / Download the ISO 23907-2 Study Guide
6 / Join Our Network for Healthcare Heroes
Watch the Full Webinar
Before exploring the themes below, we invite you to watch the full conversation with Neil Robinson – Strategic Consultant to Sharpsmart and British Standards Institute representative on the ISO 23907 committee, the global team responsible for developing the sharps container standard.
In this session, Neil shares insights shaped by 35 years supporting the NHS, including 20 years in the sharps and clinical waste sector and extensive international experience across Europe, Asia and the US.
Drawing on his background, Neil explains how ISO 23907 came to be, why reusable containers required their own dedicated standard, and what true compliance means for healthcare worker safety. This webinar covers the engineering challenges, clinical risks, lifecycle considerations and governance expectations that influenced the creation of ISO 23907-2.
Why This Conversation Matters
Despite decades of innovation, sharps injuries remain one of the most persistent and preventable risks in healthcare.
The Royal College of Nursing’s 2023 sharps injury survey found that:
- 15% of nursing staff sustained a sharps injury in a single year.
- 63% have experienced at least one sharps injury in their career.
- 32% of injuries occurred during disposal, not during the clinical procedure.
Also, NHS Resolution’s 2023 Preventing Needlestick Injuries publication showed that between 2012 and 2022*, NHS Resolution received 2,600 sharps-related claims, with around £10.8 million paid out in damages and legal costs between 2012-2022.
And that’s just the financial impact. The true cost of a needlestick injury represents far more than statistics and numbers – it represents moments of fear, anxiety and potential long-term and life-changing results for healthcare workers.
This highlights a critical truth: safer sharps systems aren’t optional; they’re a clinical, financial, and ethical necessity.
Key Themes Covered in the Webinar
To tell the story behind ISO 23907-2 and the reusable sharps container that set the UK ISO standard, we had to cover a handful of different themes.
The Human Why
Why sharps container design directly impacts sharps injury rates, staff wellbeing and organisational culture.
The Development of ISO 23907-2
How the global standard was built, who contributed, and why the committee saw an urgent need for a reusable-specific standard.
Part 1 vs Part 2
A clear breakdown of the differences between standards for single-use vs reusable sharps containers, and what those mean in practice.
Myths and Misunderstandings
From “reusables aren’t hygienic” to “ISO standards are optional”, Neil addresses common misconceptions with data, experience and clarity.
The Consequences of Non-Compliance
What the Health and Safety Executive expects under the Sharps Regulations, and the governance risks of using non-compliant or unvalidated containers.
The Value of Compliance
How ISO-aligned systems enable safer working environments, stronger sustainability performance and long-term cost certainty.
Download the ISO 23907-2 Study Guide 
For a more in-depth look at the testing methods and requirements of the standard for reusable sharps containers, we’ve created a detailed resource:
BS EN ISO 23907-2:2019 Sharps Injury Protection Study Guide
This guide simplifies the technical requirements into clear, practical language and is a valuable resource for:
- Procurement Leads
- Waste Managers
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Clinical Educators
- Estates and Facilities Teams
- Health and Safety
- Governance and Compliance Personnel
Final Thoughts
As Neil highlights in the webinar, the heart of ISO 23907-2 comes back to a simple but essential question:
“For me, it’s the why. Why would you put a container into the healthcare environment that doesn’t comply with the global safety standard for reusable sharps containers? That’s why the standard was introduced. The key is this – does that container perform across its lifecycle? If it’s designed for hundreds of uses, it needs to be as safe on its last use as it was on its first.”
Neil Robinson
ISO 23907-2 represents a global commitment to safer healthcare environments, and this webinar brings its purpose, history and impact to life through the insight of someone who helped build it.
We invite you to watch, share, and use it as an educational tool with your teams.
Join Our Network for Healthcare Heroes
Join our Network for Healthcare Heroes to receive more clinical resources, safety updates, training content and thought leadership pieces like this webinar, delivered straight to your inbox, once per month.
Some of the benefits of joining our Network for Healthcare Heroes include:
- Helpful tips and reminders for managing healthcare waste safely and efficiently
- Free educational materials and resources
- Case studies on how our partners have turned challenges into opportunities
- Up-to-date advice and information regarding compliance and legislation
- Guidance and resources to help you make healthcare safer
Josh Glover
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