Waste management in healthcare facilities is an integral part of maintaining the health and safety of both patients, staff, community and even the environment. Proper waste management helps to prevent the spread of disease, reduces the risk of exposure to hazardous materials, ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, and may even eventually reduce environmental strain.
Healthcare facilities must adhere to strict regulations regarding waste management, such as those set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines and legal penalties.
There are several branches of waste management in healthcare facilities, they include the following:
Normal / Non-hazardous /General waste
Medical / Biohazard waste
Pathological waste
Cytotoxic waste
Radioactive waste
Pharmaceutical waste
Chemical waste
Normal / Non-Hazardous / General Waste
Normal ,non-hazardous or general waste includes any materials that are generally used by the community. These items are commonly found in almost every household and do not pose an immediate threat to the community. However, these items should be discarded properly and as per local laws and regulations to aid in reversing climate change. These items include paper, pens, pencils, food containers, disposable cups, water bottles, office supplies, etc.... These items are disposed of as general waste and are collected by the local facilities and disposed of as per governmental regulations.
Medical / Biohazard Waste
Medical waste includes any materials generated during the care of patients that can potentially transmit infectious diseases. These items are usually contaminated with bodily fluids or are generated from a highly infectious source. These items include syringes, cannulas, IV lines, contaminated dressings, PPEs, and biological specimens. Items that are contaminated or sharp pose a risk to the health of others. Thus, these items must be segregated at the point of use to ensure maximal compliance with national and international laws, as well as enhance community safety. Sharp items such as syringes, needles, broken vials must be disposed of in a sharps container. Some of these containers are thickened plastic, while others are made of a tough cardboard material, nevertheless, the container must be puncture-proof to comply with the requirements of waste management. Other items deemed as biohazard waste are usually disposed of in a yellow bag. This bag is usually made of a thicker material than normal waste bags and is marked with the “biohazard” symbol. This type of waste is collected by certain facilities that are certified by the local government to collect and incinerate these items.
Pathological Waste
Pathological waste refers to organs, limbs, etc.... that are no longer useful in maintaining life and must be disposed of. Removed organs such as the gall bladder, appendix, malfunctioning organs, amputated limbs or fingers, placentas, and still-borns are all items that are labeled as pathological waste. These items are handled with care and are dealt with as based on national laws and regulations, as well as religious laws.
After removal of an amputated finger for instance, (which does not require further testing/ biopsy), it is placed in a distinctive bag , sometimes a red bag, and dealt with accordingly. In Islamic countries ,these items are sent for burial as required by religious law.
If the finger were to require further testing it would be placed in a sample container and labeled accordingly.
If the finger was deemed highly infectious, it is usually best to place a biohazard sign / bag along with the bag assigned for pathological waste. To ensure that other authorities are notified of the potential danger of this item.
Cytotoxic Waste
Cytotoxic wastes are specific to facilities that provide cancer treatments or chemotherapy. These wastes are deemed toxic to cells and must be dealt with extreme care, as they can be absorbed into the skin, inhaled, or possibly ingested. Hence, these items should be disposed of at the point of use and placed into a designated container. This container is usually purple in color and labeled “CYTOTOXIC”. It must be a puncture-proof, lidded container as well.
Radioactive Waste
Radioactive wastes refer to waste products that are radioactive. In the healthcare sector, this type of waste results from nuclear imaging procedures and nuclear research labs. To ensure the safety of the patients and the staff, measures must be placed to limit the exposure to such radioactive products. Radioactive waste generated by healthcare facilities is usually deemed low-level waste, as compared to other types of facilities. Yet, these waste products must be handled with care and be clearly identifiable. Radioactive waste products are placed in a well-shielded container, usually lead-lined, and labeled with the radioactive symbol. Radiological wastes are disposed by means of “geological disposal” or burial. This waste is buried in specific underground areas that are built to contain and limit the radiation from reaching possible surrounding life-forms-if any.
Pharmaceutical & Chemical Waste
In some countries, pharmaceutical waste and chemical waste are deemed as categories of waste. However, the majority of countries combine some of these waste items with one of the 4 previously mentioned categories. For instance, if an I.V. paracetamol bottle was disposed of, it would be disposed of in the biohazard waste as if contains a medication or placed into a sharps container if broken.
To summarize, waste segregation is a critical component of overall patient and staff safety in healthcare facilities. By appropriately managing different types of waste, healthcare facilities can prevent the spread of disease, avoid exposure to hazardous materials, comply with regulatory requirements, and reduce environmental strain caused by waste disposal methods. By segregating waste product as mentioned above, facilities are not overburdened with unnecessary waste products, infectious diseases that may generate from waste products are controlled, and the community is shielded from health hazards that may be caused by waste products.
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