Health care undertakings generate much waste, such as utilized needles as well as syringes, stained dressings as well as body parts. Besides, health care facilities also produce waste from chemicals and medical devices. All these waste products are very harmful to the environment. As such, a health care waste management plan is very crucial to ensure that waste is well taken care of.
If poorly managed, health care waste becomes a risk to health care staff, those handling waste, patients in hospitals as well as the whole community. All these categories of people become exposed to infection, toxic effects and injuries. Also, health care waste pollutes the environment. It is, therefore, very essential that health care products be separated at the point of generation, treated then disposed of appropriately. This article discusses some fundamental procedures for handling health care waste.
Encouraging Reduction of Waste Generation
Health care facilities should be encouraged to reduce waste generation. People can use several ways to achieve this goal. Some of these include:
- Ensuring the reduction of waste at the source.
- Going for those products that generate very minimal waste
- Buying equipment that is reusable, such as washable tableware.
- Going for those suppliers who refill the containers once they are empty
Sorting the Different Types of Waste
Identifying health care waste and collecting it separately.
The best practice is always to sort the waste at the point of production. All the waste that undergoes the same disposal is put together. Doing this at the point of waste production makes it easy. The sorted waste should then be put separately inside labeled containers or bags. All the sharps should be sorted separately from the other types of wastes.
Ensure Proper Collection and Storage
Health care waste must never be allowed to accumulate at the point of production. You can avoid this by ensuring that the collection happens at least once a day. Waste should also be collected and stored separately. It is also essential to ensure the correct labeling of every type of waste at the place of storage.
Great caution should be taken when storing infectious wastes. Such should never be stored in places that are deemed to open to the public. Another precaution is ensuring the appropriate closing of the containers that contain the sharps before they are collected. Also, the staff who collects the waste must wear gloves for protection against any contamination.
Ensure Proper Transportation
Health care waste should be packed for transportation in a way that is easy to load and unload. The packing should also not have any sharp corners that might poke holes into the bags or the containers. The transportation packaging should as well be clearly marked. The means of transportation must be properly closed to avoid any spillage.
Proper Handling and Disposal
Handling and treatment of health care waste involve several health risks. It is for this reason that protective measures should be put in place. These measures ensure that any risks involved are reduced to the minimum possible. For assistance with medical waste disposal, check out gicmd.com.
Several factors determine the choice of treatment and disposal. They include:
- The quantity and the type of waste produced
- Whether there is an availability of waste treatment site near or not
- The availability of a dependable means of transport
- National legislation concerning health care waste management
In conclusion, a health care waste management plan is very crucial in ensuring that waste is collected, separated, and disposed of appropriately.
