Healthcare Waste Management Flashcards
Includes all the waste that is generated or produced as a result of any of the following activities
Healthcare Waste
o Refers to all wastes suspected to contain pathogens or toxins in sufficient amount that may cause disease to a susceptible host.
o Ex. Discarded microbial cultures, wound dressings, sputum cups
Infectious wastes
include used and unused sharps such as hypodermic, intravenous or other needles, infusion sets, scalpels, knives and blades and broken glass.
Sharps
refers to tissue sections and body fluids derived from biopsies, autopsies or surgical procedures sent to the laboratory for examination
Pathological/anatomic waste
include discarded pharmaceutical products, drugs, vaccines, and sera.
Pharmaceutical waste
consist of discarded solids, liquid, and gaseous chemicals used in diagnostic and experimental work, as well as cleaning, housekeeping and disinfecting procedures. Hazardous chemicals have the following properties: toxic, corrosive,
flammable, reactive and oxidizing.
Chemical wastes
contain radioactive substances such as unused liquid from radiotherapy.
Radioactive wastes
Non-hazardous or General wastesRefers to wastes that have not been in contact with communicable or infectious agents, hazardous chemicals or radioactive substance and do not pose a hazard.
o Ex. Plastic bottles, papers. Scrap wood, food of non-infectious patients
o Can be classified as recyclable, biodegradable, non-biodegradable
Non-hazardous or General wastes
The inadequate handling and disposal of HCW may lead to transmission of infectious diseases.
Attention shall be focused on the possible result of unmanaged waste to air, water and soil, including the community.
The public is very sensitive about the visual impact of anatomical waste, such as, recognizable body parts and fetus.
Impacts of Healthcare Waste to
Human Health and the Environment
o “Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes
o Control Act of 1990”
RA 6969
“The Code of Sanitation of the
Philippines”
Presidential Decree No. 856 s 1975
“Provides Guideline in Hospital Management”
DOH DC # 156-C series of 1993
“Clean Air Act of 1999”
RA 8749
“Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001”
RA 9003
“Clean Water Art of 2004”
RA 9275
“Environmental Impact Statement System Law”
PD 1586
Process of separating different types of waste at the point of generation and keeping them isolated from each other
Hazardous waste should be placed in clearly marked containers that are appropriately labeled for the type and
weight of the waste
Waste Segregation
All healthcare waste should be collected and stored in waste storage area until transported to a designated off-site
facility.
This area shall be marked with warning sign: “CAUTION: BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA – UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT.”
Storage
Suggested collection frequency on room to room basis is once every shift or as often as necessary. Time of collection regardless of category should be at the start of every
shift.
Figure 7. Foot Operated Lid Container Refuse Receptacle for Infectious Wards Lined with Heavy-Gauge Plastic Bag with
Cover
Collection and Transport
Waste should be collected daily and transported to the designated central storage site or waste transfer station
No bags should be removed unless they are labeled with their point of production (hospital ward or department) and contents
The bags or containers should be replaced immediately with new ones of the same type.
refers to the transport of waste from the point of generation to the treatment facility in the HCF or to the central storage area.
On-site collection
n is defined as a survival
probability of the most resistant
microorganism of concern in a given
process.
Sterilization
is defined as low,
intermediate or high depending on the
survival probability of specific microbial
groups.
Disinfection
a process that destroys all viable microbes, including viruses and endospores; microbicidal
Sterilization
a process to destroy vegetative pathogens, not
endospores; inanimate objects
Disinfection
