FINALS Flashcards
it is mandatory for the employees to implement to make sure that their employees are safe and healthy
occupational health and safety
it contains variety of safety hazards many of which are capable of causing serious injury.
clinical laboratory
identification and control of the risk chemical, physical and other workplace hazards
occupational hazards
what are the holistic approach for employees safety
- risk assessment
- injury prevention
- work life balance
- safety protocols
- work place hazards
- compensation and benefits
- employee management
types of occupational health and safety
- biological hazards
- sharps hazards
- chemical hazards
- physical hazards
- radioactive hazards
- electrical hazards
- fire/expulsive hazards
- psychological hazards
source : specimen received in the laboratory
biological hazard
possibly injury: bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infection.
biological hazard
source: needles, lancets, broken glass
sharps hazards
possibly injury: blood-borne pathogen exposure puncture resistand and leak-proof containers
sharps hazards
source: chemical reagents and substance, mixture etc.
chemical hazards
possibly injuries: skin irritation, inhalation risks, fire and explosion
chemical hazard
source: wet floors, heavy boxes, elevated materials and obstructions
physical hazards
source: radionuclide material, ionizing radiation
radioactive hazards
possibly injury: acute radiation syndrome, skin burns, long term illness such as cancer
radioactive hazard
source: frayed cords, ungrounded or wet equipment
electrical hazards
possibly injury: burns or shocks
electrical hazards
source: open flames, organic chemicals
fire/expulsive hazards
possibly injury: burns, dismemberment
fire/ expulsive hazards
meaning of RACE
R - RESCUE
A - ALARM
C - CONTAIN
E - EXTINGUISH
source: violence in the workplace, working alone, over/underworked, worker phobias, poor leadership, lack of motivation
Psychological hazard
meaning of PASS
P - PULL
A - AIM
S - SQUEEZE
S - SWEEP
the 3 bacteria are gram-negative
Enterobacteriaceae
protozoan parasite that can also cause enteric infection. it can be identified and isolated in stool culture
Giardia Lamblia
viral enteritis is caused by:
rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus
its symptoms such as vomiting, watery diarrhea, headache, fever, etc.
stomach flue
diarrhea, fever
salmonella
uti
Escherichia coli
caused by streptococcus pyogenes potential source are respiratory specimens, skin lesions, blood, sputum and wound exudates
pharyngitis
what microorganism enters body through inhilation of infections
aerosols and mucocutaneous lesions
this is non-contagions bacterial infections of skin and/or the tissues beneath the skin (dermis and subentaneous tissue)
cellulitis
inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye and inner surface of the eyelids caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi
conjunctivitis
non-acute bacterial conjunctivitis is cause by:
staphylococci and streptococci
viral conjunctivitis ( pink eye ) is caused by:
adenovirus
inflammation of liver
hepatitis
- transmitted through contaminated blood
- enters the body through an open lesion on the skin
- vector-borne transmission, the pathogen enters the skin
blood borne diseases
caused by alcohol and drugs is considered as non-infectious
hepatitis
what type of hepatitis is transmitted percutaneously or sexually through contract with infected blood
hepatitis D
what type of hepatitis separated through saliva, semen, and vaginal fluid
hepatitis b
what type of hepatitis is considered as dangerous because it is a ‘‘silent infections ‘’ which means that a person can be infected without knowing
hepatitis b
what type of hepatitis known as non A non B hepatitis
hepatitis C
what type of hepatitis ability to evade the body’s immune system because it changes in form; it has a dual morphing capability
hepatitis B
what type of hepatitis known as ‘’ delta virus’’ a defective virus that requires the presence of hepatitis B to replicate
hepatitis d
severe disease that represents the late stage of infection with HIV which cause defective functioning of the body’s immune system
blood-borne-disease-AIDS
transmitted through blood transfusion, unprotected sexual intercourse, accidental needle stick injuries
blood-borne-disease-AIDS
can be transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquitos
dengue
most common vector of dengue virus is the mosquito
aedes aegypti
also known as the break bone fever because of its symptoms of intense joint and muscle pain
dengue
caused by families of viruses ( arenavirus, filoviridae, bunyaviridae and flaviviridae)
vector-borne - viral hemorrhagic fever
vector-borne - viral hemorrhagic fever caused by families of viruses :
arenavirus, filoviridae, bunyaviridae and flaviviridae
characterized by non-specific flu-like illness such as fever, fatigue, muscle, joint pain and headache
vector-borne - viral hemorrhagic fever
- infection caused by plasmodium
- parasites infect red blood cells
- transmitted through the bite of Anopheles mosquito
malaria
a genus of parasites that cause malaria
Plasmodium falciparum
Plasmodium malariae
Plasmodium vivax,
Plasmodium ovale,
Plasmodium knowlesi.
- caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis ( tubercle bacilllus )
- released from the lungs or throat
tuberculosis
- most common cause of laboratory - acquired infections
- considered an occupational hazard for medical technologist
- common cause are withdrawing of the needles
needle stick injury
most common cause of laboratory - acquired infections
needle stick injury
an act or process of containing and/or preventing the
expansion of a substance.
SPILL RESPONSE
PURPOSE of SPILL RESPONSE
- reduce the extent of risk to human life
- prevent material entering sewers or waterways
- prevent contaminating surrounding areas
- reduce contamination of adjacent chemicals
- ensure responders practice A.L.A.R.A concept
meaning of ALARA
As Low As Reasonably Achievable
DAO 29-1992 (IRR of RA 6969); RA 6969: Toxic
Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990
- DENR DAO 2013-22 (rev. 2004-36
Guidelines for the implementation of Globally Harmonized System (GHS) in chemical safety program in workplace.
DOLE DO 2014-136
Rules and procedures for the implementation of the GHS of classification and labeling of chemicals.
DENR DAO 2015-09 & EMB MC 2015-011
“Comprehensive emergency contingency plans to
mitigate and combat spills and accidents
involving chemical substances and/or hazardous
waste.”
- DENR
“Procedures for dealing with spillage should specify safe handling operation and appropriate protective clothing.”
DOH
Develop Biorisk Management (BRM) policy; foster culture of safety/security workplace; ensure adequate human and financial resources.
TOP MANAGEMENT
Operational responsibility for overseeing the system; promotion of BRM system; provide appropriate resources.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Reviewing and approving protocols and risk
assessments of work; contributing to the development of policies; and provide advices and guidance on BRM issues.
BSSO/SAFETY COMMITTEE
- Manage day to day safety issues in the laboratory; maintain inventory; staff follow procedures in BRM program; promptly correct any unsafe practices.
LAB MANAGER
Follow biorisk management policies and procedures; report accident, injury, unsafe conditions, etc.; and discuss safety concerns with fellow employees.
LAB WORKERS (EMPLOYEES)
Provide input on facilities and equipment standards; and building and maintenance with contracts (commissioning of new facilities and PMs)
MAINTENANCE OFFICER
Contribute to security risk assessment; and facility security plan (physical, transport, personnel, and material control).
SECURITY OFFICER
Some Emergency Situations:
- Fire
- Earthquake
- Floods/Tsunami
- Bomb threat
- Power and HVAC
- Laboratory accident/incident
CAUSE OF SPILLS
- Inappropriate handling techniques
- Inappropriate storage containers
- Damaged storage containers
- Uncontrolled access to chemical storage
- Lack of chemical-related training
- Lack of supervision
SPILL PREVENTION PLANNING
- Hazard Identification and Risk Evaluation
- Update Inventory
- Containments and Engineering
- Spills kits and PPEs
SPILL PREVENTION PLANNING
- Minimize traffic in the area
- Store liquid wastes in secondary containers
- Regularly inspect containers to ensure their integrity
- Be aware of evacuation routes and emergency equipment
- Sampling and testing kits: time-consuming
- Air monitoring instruments: very expensive
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
- Solid materials easy to recover
- Vapors in confined areas
- may form explosive amounts
- displace oxygen for breathing
RISK EVALUATION
- Improve both safety and security management
- Only buy and store amount of material needed
- Buy the least hazardous materials possible
- Use non-hazardous materials when possible
INVENTORY
what are the hazard identification
- RISK EVALUATION
- INVENTORY
- ENGINEERING AND CONTAINERS
- SPILL AND PLUG KITS
meaning of SPILL
S- Stop what you are doing.
P- Presume you are contaminated.
I- Inform others in the immediate area of the spill.
L- Localize the spilled material(s).
L- Label the area as contaminated.
Be specific to hazards, specific procedures, and use for training:
- CONTAIN THE SPILL
- ESTABLISH DECONTAMINATION ZONES
- CLEAN-UP BIOLOGICAL & CHEMICAL SPILLS
- REPORT AND REVIEW
- ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
- ACT! DO SEMINARS & DRILLS
Considerations for zoning:
- Wind direction and speed
- Topography of land
- Ventilation systems
- Potential spread
Zones:
HOT ZONE
WARM ZONE
COLD ZONE
- Exclusion zone
- RED
HOT ZONE
- Contamination reduction zone
- YELLOW
WARM ZONE
- Support zone
- GREEN
COLD ZONE
CHALLENGES:
- Budget
- Chemical disposal/treatment
- Materials
- Employees/students: safe culture
- Top management
- Knowledge gaps
- A process of cleaning an object or a substance.
- Removal of soil and pathogenic microorganisms from OBJECTS so they are safe to handle, subject to further processing, use or discard.
DECONTAMINATION
WHAT DO WE DECONTAMINATE IN THE LAB?
- Decontaminate potentially infectious materials before disposal or use.
- Decontaminate equipment and work surfaces routinely.
YOU DECONTAMINATE
- With proper disinfectant for the agent
- After spills or contamination
- When work is finished
- Equipment before removal from the lab
LEVELS OF DECONTAMINATION
STERILIZATION
DISINFECTION
ANTISEPSIS
CLEANING
- act or process, physical or chemical, that destroys or eliminates ALL FORMS OF LIFE, especially microorganisms.
STERILIZATION
generally less lethal process than sterilization. It is the elimination of nearly all recognized pathogenic microorganisms BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL MICROBIAL FORMS.
DISINFECTION
application of a liquid antimicrobial chemical to skin or living tissue to inhibit or destroy microorganisms.
ANTISEPSIS
- uses water, detergent, and some mechanical action such as scrubbing with a gloved hand or brush.
CLEANING
DECONTAMINATION FOR LIVING TISSUES
- CHEMICAL
- RADIATION
- THERMAL
- FILTRATION
what are the Chemical Disinfectants:
- Halogens
- Aldehydes (Formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde)
- Phenolics
- Alcohols
- Acids & Alkalis
- Oxidizing agents (Hydrogen peroxide)
- Quaternary Ammonium compounds (Benzalkonium Cl)
- Biguanides (Chlorhexidine)
FACTORS AFFECTING DISINFECTION:
NUMBER OF MICROORGANISMS
LOCATION OF MICROORGANISMS
INNATE RESISTANCE TO DISINFECTANT
PRODUCT FACTORS
SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY
BIOFILM
CONCENTRATION & POTENCY OF THE
DISINFECTANT
PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL FACTORS
APPROPRIATE CONTACT TIME
- Aggregated, clumped and abundant microorganism are more difficult to inactivate.
NUMBER OF MICROORGANISMS
Microorganisms possess body parts that prevents disinfectant entry like an outer membrane that acts as a barrier to the uptake of disinfectants
INNATE RESISTANCE TO DISINFECTANT
- Medical instruments with multiple pieces are more difficult to disinfect than are flat-surface equipment.
LOCATION OF MICROORGANISMS
2 Types of Resistance to Disinfectants:
INTRINSIC RESISTANCE
ACQUIRED RESISTANCE
- Spores surrounded by impermeable coat
- Protective cell walls
INTRINSIC RESISTANCE
- Genetic changes
- Use of disinfectants at sub-lethal concentrations
ACQUIRED RESISTANCE
Age of the product/solution, Method of application (spray vs. wipe), Rate of application, Storage
conditions.
PRODUCT FACTORS
- microbial communities that are tightly
attached to surfaces and cannot be easily removed. - Once these masses form, microbes within them can be resistant to disinfectants.
BIOFILM
Uneven, cracked, or pitted surfaces can hide
microorganisms and are difficult to disinfect.
SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY
the more concentrated the disinfectant, the greater its efficacy and the shorter the time necessary to achieve microbial kill.
CONCENTRATION & POTENCY OF THE
DISINFECTANT
Temperature, pH, relative humidity, and water
hardness affect disinfectant.
PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL FACTORS
- Disinfectants should be effective in a short contact time
APPROPRIATE CONTACT TIME
a strong heated container used for
chemical reactions and other
processes using high pressures and
temperatures.
Autoclave
it is usually used in the clinical
laboratory.
Autoclave
Autoclave it utilizes the principle of
steam under pressure
the most dependable system available for
decontamination.
AUTOCLAVE
is the method for decontamination. It
is the most preferrable method used in the laboratory, specifically the clinical laboratory.
AUTOCLAVING
AUTOCLAVE HAZARDS
- Explosive breakage of glass vessels during
opening and unloading - Burns arising from careless handling of vessels
containing boiling liquids - Burns resulting from physical contact
WHAT CAN BE AUTOCLAVED?
- Pathogenic plant matter
- Culture and stocks of infectious agents
- Contaminated solids
- Discarded live and attenuated vaccines
WHAT SHOULD NOT BE AUTOCLAVED?
- CORROSIVE and RADIOACTIVE materials
Health care wastes refer to all SOLID or LIQUID wastes generated by the following activities:
HEALTH CARE WASTES
of sampled facilities from 24 countries had
adequate systems in place for the safe disposal of health care wastes
58%
wastes generated by health care
activities are non-hazardous
Between 75-90%
considered hazardous and may be
infectious, toxic, or radioactive
10-25%
- In the Philippines, from health care facilities are hazardous
30.37% of wastes
Health Care Waste Generators
- hospital and medical centers
- infirmaries
- birthing homes
- clinics and other health-related facilities
- laboratories and research centers
- drug manufacturers
- institutions
- mortuary and autopsy centers
all wastes suspected to contain pathogens or toxins in sufficient concentration that may cause disease.
INFECTIOUS WASTES
microbial cultures, dressings, sputum
cups, urine containers, and blood bags
Solid wastes
blood, urine, vomitus other body
secretions, food wastes from patients with highly infectious disease
Liquid wastes
- Tissue sections and body fluids or organs derived from biopsies, autopsies, or surgical procedures sent to the laboratory for examination.
- Recognizable body parts usually from amputation
procedures.
PATHOLOGICAL & ANATOMICAL WASTE
- Waste items that can cause cuts, pricks, or puncture wounds
- Considered the most dangerous health care waste because of their potential to causse both injury and infection.
SHARPS
Discarded chemical generated during disinfection and sterilization procedures
CHEMICAL WASTES
COMMON CHEMICAL WASTE
acids
alcohols
aldehydes
bases
halogenated disinfectants
halogenated solvents
metals
non-halogenated solvents
other disinfectants
oxidizers
reducers
miscellaneous
Expired, split, and contaminated pharmaceutical products, drugs, and vaccines including discarded items used in handling pharmaceuticals
PHARMACEUTICAL WASTES
Ex: empty drug vials, medicine bottles, and
containers of cytotoxic drugs including materials used for their preparation and administration
PHARMACEUTICAL WASTES
- Wastes exposed to radionuclides including
radioactive diagnostic materials or radiotherapeutic materials.
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Ex. Cobalt, technetium, iodine, iridium
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Irradiated blood products and contaminated waste, patient’s excretion, and all material used by patients exposed to radionuclide within 48 hours
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Wastes that have not been incontact with communicable or infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, or radioactive
substances, and do not pose a hazard
NON-HAZARDOUS OR GENERAL WASTES
Ex: plastic bottles, used paper products, office wastes scrap wood, and food waste of non-infectious patients
NON-HAZARDOUS OR GENERAL WASTES
IMPACT OF HEALTH CARE WASTES
Potentially at risk:
- Medical staff (doctors, MTs, RNs, etc.)
- In- and out-patients
- Visitors
- Caregivers
- Support staff
- Waste haulers
- Garbage pickers
- General public
for prolonged periods in
minute quantities
chronic
for short periods in large
quantities
acute
Other adverse health outcomes
- Sharps-inflicted injuries
- Toxic exposure
- Chemical burns
- Air pollution
- Thermal injuries
- Radiation burns
- Adopted on September 16, 1987
- Enforced: January 1, 1989
- Eliminate ozone depleting substances in
the environment
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer
- Enforced since 1989
- Only legitimate transboundary shipments
of hazardous waste are exported from
countries that lack the facilities or expertise
to safely dispose certain wastes
The Basel Convention on the Control of the
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
- Pledge that by the year 2000, major
industrialized nations would voluntarily
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to
1990 levels
The United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (1992)
A global treaty to protect from persistent
organic pollutants (POP); chemicals that
remains unchanged in the environment for
long periods of time, accumulate in the
fatty tissues of living organisms, and are
toxic to both humans and wildlife
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants (2001)
- Protocol 9 on Dangerous Goods
- Provides provision on the transport of toxic
and infectious substances
The ASEAN Framework Agreement on the
Facilitation of Goods in Transit (1998)
- An act that requires the registration and
licensure of all hospital in the country and
mandates the DOH to provide guidelines
for hospital technical standards as to
personnel, equipment, and physical
facilities
Republic Act No. 4226 “Hospital Licensure Act” (1965)
– submission of plans and other design requirements under the Code of Sanitation, National Plumbing Code, Fire Code, and National Building Code.
DOH AO No. 90-A series of 2002
– requires a health care waste management plan for the issuance of license to operate.
DOH AO No. 2005-0029 dated December 12, 2005
requires written procedures and policy guidelines on proper disposal of health care wastes, biosafety, and biosecurity.
DOH AO No 2007-0027 dated August 22, 2007
- An act that requires the registration of waste generators, waste transporters, and
operator of toxic and hazardous waste
treatment facilities.
Republic Act No. 6969 “An Act to Control
Substances and Hazardous Nuclear Wastes” 1990
to further strengthen the implementation of R.A. 6969 and prescribing the use of the procedural manual
DENR AO No. 36, series of 2004
dated August 24, 2005; entitled “Policies and
Guidelines on Effective and Proper Handling,
Collection, Transport, Treatment, Storage, and
Disposal of Health Care Waste”
-DOH-DENR Joint AO No. 02, series of 2005
This aims to provide guidelines to generators,
transporters, and operators or owners of BSE on the proper handling, transport, treatment, storage, and disposal.
DOH-DENR Joint AO No. 02, series of 2005
– the guidelines on the issuance of certificate of product registration for equipment or devices used for trating sharp, pathological, and infectious waste. It requires to secure a certificate of product registration from DOH through the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology
DOH AO 2007-0014
It promotes the use of state-of-the-art,
environmentally-sound, and safe non-burn
technologies for the handling, treatment,
thermal destruction, utilization, and
disposal of sorted, unrecycled, biomedical,
and hazardous wastes.
Republic Act No. 8749 “The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”
Prohibits the incineration of bio-medical
wastes effective July 17, 2003
Republic Act No. 8749 “The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”
Pursues a policy of economic growth in a
manner consistent with the protection,
preservation, and revival of the quality of
the country’s fresh, brackish, and marine
waters
Republic Act No. 9275 “The Philippine Clean
Water Act of 2004”
Mandates the segregation of solid wastes
at the sources including households and
institutions like hospitals by using a
separate container for each type of waste.
Republic Act No. 9003 “Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000”
Empowers the LLDA to issue permits for
the use of surface waters within Laguna de
Bay
PD 813 (1975) and EO 927 (1983) “Strengthening
the Functions of Laguna Lake Development
Authority”
Rules and Regulations Governing the
Collection, Handling, Transport,
Treatment, and Disposal of Domestic
Sludge and Septage, (2004)
PD 856 ‘The Code on Sanitation of the
Philippines – Chapter XVII on Sewage Collection and Excreta Disposal’ (1998)
Chapter XVIII on Refuse Disposal (1998)
PD 856 ‘The Code on Sanitation of the
Philippines – Chapter XVII on Sewage Collection and Excreta Disposal’ (1998)
Operation Manual on the Rules and
Regulations Governing Domestic Sludge
and Septage (June 2008)
PD 856 ‘The Code on Sanitation of the
Philippines – Chapter XVII on Sewage Collection and Excreta Disposal’ (1998)
AO 2010-0033 ‘Revised Implementing
Rules and Regulations of PD 856, Chapter
XXI on Disposal of Dead Persons’
(December 2010)
PD 856 ‘The Code on Sanitation of the
Philippines – Chapter XVII on Sewage Collection and Excreta Disposal’ (1998)
Governs the discharge of potentially
polluting substances to air and water
PD No. 984 ‘Providing for the Revision of RA No. 3931, Commonly known as the Pollution Control Law, and for Other Purposes’ (1976)
- Requires new and existing hospitals to
secure an Environmental Compliance
Commitment (ECC) Certificate prior to
construction and operation
PD No. 1586 ‘Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) System (1978)
- Promote the culture of making
environmentally informed decisions in the
government - Include environment criteria in public
tenders, whenever possible and
practicable - Establish the specifications and
requirements for products and services to
be considered environmentally
advantageous - Develop incentive programs for suppliers
of environmentally advantageous products
or services
- eon O. 301 ‘Establishing a Green Procurement Program for All Departments, Bureaus, Offices, and Agencies of the Executive Branch of Government’ (2004)
- Requires health care facilities to gradually
phaseout the use of mercury-containing
devices and equipment
DOH AO No. 2008-0021 date July 30, 2008
‘Gradual Phaseout of Mercury in all Philippine
Health Care Facilities and Institutions’
Requires the establishment and
maintenance of a culture of patient safety
in the health care facilities as the
responsibility of its leaders
DOH AO No. 2008- 0023 dated July 30, 2008
‘National Policy on Patient Safety’
Serves as a reference for health care
facilities administrators in the
implementation of an effective and efficient
waste management program
DOH Manual on Health Care Waste Management in 2011
most preferable
prevent
least preferable
dispose
- Bin: strong leak-proof bin
with cover labelled ‘infectious’
with biohazard symbol
INFECTIOUS WASTES
Liner: yellow plastic that can withstand autoclaving with 0.009 mm thickness and
labeled ‘Infectious Waste’ with a tag indicating source and weight of waste and date of collection; may or may not have biohazard symbol
INFECTIOUS WASTES
Bin: strong leak-proof bin with cover labelled
——————— waste’ with biohazard
symbol
PATHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL WASTES
- Liner: yellow plastic that can withstand autoclaving with 0.009 mm thickness and labeled ‘pathological/anatomical waste’ with a tag indicating source and weight of waste and date of collection; may or may not have biohazard symbol
PATHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL WASTES
Bin: puncture-proof container with a wide mouth and cover labelled ‘Sharps’ with biohazard symbol
Liner: not applicable
SHARPS
-Bin: labelled ‘——————-; for liquid chemical waste, inside the bin is a disposable
bottle made of ambercolored glass with at
least 4 liters capacity that is string, chemical-resistant, and leak-proof
- Liner: yellow with black band plastic with 0.009 mm thickness
CHEMICAL WASTES
- Bin: strong leak-proof bin with cover labelled
‘pharmaceutical waste’ for expired drugs and
drug containers and ‘cytotoxic waste’ for cytotoxic, genotoxic, and antineoplastic waste - Liner: yellow with black band plastic with 0.009 mm thickness
PHARMACEUTICAL WASTES
- Bin: radiation proof repositories, leak-proof, and lead-lined container labelled with name of radionuclide and date of deposition with
radioactive symbol - Liner: orange plastic with
0.009 mm thickness
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
- Bin: optional recycle symbol for recyclable
non-hazardous wastes; varying sizes depending on volume of waste - Liner: black or colorless plastic for nonbiodegradable with a thickness of 0.009 mm with a tag indicating source, weight, and date of collection
GENERAL WASTES
- Thermal decomposition of health care
wastes in the absence of supplied
molecular oxygen in the destruction
chamber where waste is converted into
gaseous, liquid, or solid form.
PYROLYSIS
The use of steam sterilization to render
waste harmless and is an efficient wet
thermal disinfection process. The usual
setting is at 121C with a pressure of 15v
psi for 15 to 30 minutes.
AUTOCLAVE
Typically incorporates some type of size
reduction device. Wastes are exposed to
microwave that raise the temperature to
100C for at least 30 minutes.
MICROWAVE
Chemicals like Na hypochlorite, Hydrogen
peroxide, peroxyacetic acid, and heated
alkali are added to health care wastes to
kill or inactivate present pathogens. 5% Na
hypochlorite is recommended.
CHEMICAL DISINFECTION
Uses an enzyme mixture to decontaminate
health care wastes. The technology is
suited for large applications.
BIOLOGICAL PROCESS
- Involves filling of containers with water,
adding and immobilizing material, and
sealing the containers. The containers are
filled with plastic foam, sand, and cement
mortar, sealed, and disposed in a landfill.
ENCAPSULATION
Especially suitable for pharmaceutical
waste that involves the mixing of waste
with cement and other substances before
disposal.
INERTIZATION
