Healthcare Waste Management

Question 1

Includes all the waste that is generated or produced as a result of any of the following activities

Answer 1

Healthcare Waste

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Infectious wastes

Question 3

include used and unused sharps such as hypodermic, intravenous or other needles, infusion sets, scalpels, knives and blades and broken glass.

Answer 3

Sharps

Question 4

refers to tissue sections and body fluids derived from biopsies, autopsies or surgical procedures sent to the laboratory for examination

Answer 4

Pathological/anatomic waste

Question 5

include discarded pharmaceutical products, drugs, vaccines, and sera.

Answer 5

Pharmaceutical waste

Question 6

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.

Answer 6

Chemical wastes

Question 7

contain radioactive substances such as unused liquid from radiotherapy.

Answer 7

Radioactive wastes

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Non-hazardous or General wastes

Question 9

 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.

Answer 9

Impacts of Healthcare Waste to
Human Health and the Environment

Question 10

o “Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes
o Control Act of 1990”

Answer 10

RA 6969

Question 11

“The Code of Sanitation of the
Philippines”

Answer 11

Presidential Decree No. 856 s 1975

Question 12

“Provides Guideline in Hospital Management”

Answer 12

DOH DC # 156-C series of 1993

Question 13

“Clean Air Act of 1999”

Answer 13

RA 8749

Question 14

“Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001”

Answer 14

RA 9003

Question 15

“Clean Water Art of 2004”

Answer 15

RA 9275

Question 16

“Environmental Impact Statement System Law”

Answer 16

PD 1586

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Waste Segregation

Question 18

 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.”

Answer 18

Storage

Question 19

 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

Answer 19

Collection and Transport

Question 20

 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.

Answer 20

On-site collection

Question 21

n is defined as a survival
probability of the most resistant
microorganism of concern in a given
process.

Answer 21

Sterilization

Question 22

is defined as low,
intermediate or high depending on the
survival probability of specific microbial
groups.

Answer 22

Disinfection

Question 23

a process that destroys all viable microbes, including viruses and endospores; microbicidal

Answer 23

Sterilization

Question 24

a process to destroy vegetative pathogens, not
endospores; inanimate objects

Answer 24

Disinfection

Question 25

disinfectants applied directly to exposed body surfaces

Answer 25

Antiseptic

Question 26

• any cleansing technique that mechanically
  removes microbes

Answer 26

Sanitization

Question 27

Healthcare Waste Treatment
Technologies/Processes

Answer 27

 Autoclaving (steam sterilization)
 Incineration
 Thermal inactivation
 Gas/Vapor Sterilization
 Chemical Disinfection
 Sterilization by irradiation (microwave) i

Question 28

is an engineered method designed to keep the waste isolated
from the environment.

Answer 28

Landfill

Question 29

l as a disposal method is applicable only to treated infectious
waste, sharps waste, pathological and anatomical waste, small quantities of encapsulated/ inertisized solid chemical
and pharmaceutical wastes

Answer 29

Safe Burial

Question 30

This method is especially suitable for the
disposal of used sharps and syringes.

Answer 30

Septic/Concrete Vault

Question 31

Summary of Healthcare Waste Handling

Answer 31

 Waste Generation
 Waste Segregation
 Waste Collection
 Waste Transportation
 Waste Storage
 Waste Treatment
 Waste Disposal

Question 32

 “It is a plan developed to address common
and specific emergency situations that may
arise in the laboratory or facility.”

Answer 32

Emergency Preparedness and
Incident Response