It is essential to dispose of medical waste securely and then destroy it afterwards if one wants to cut down on the number of people who get sick or injured as a result of coming into touch with potentially dangerous materials and to stop the pollution of the natural environment. The transmission of an infection caused by a bloodborne virus is a significant concern. Other dangers include the possibility of suffering a physical injury or experiencing bad consequences, either locally or systemically, as a result of coming into touch with potentially toxic medications.
Different Types of Healthcare Waste
Clinical Waste
The term “clinical waste” refers to any sort of waste that, according to the most popular definition, might potentially spread an illness or disease. This kind of waste is produced by dentistry offices, general practitioner (GP) surgeries, hospitals, independent physicians and clinics or centres, and other types of healthcare service providers. In addition to that, it applies to laboratories for research and development, veterinary services, and pharmaceutical pharmacies. If your waste is not correctly categorised, the task of clinical waste disposal would be challenging suitably, putting both you and your company in danger of incurring fines and other penalties.
Cytotoxic waste
This is a particularly specialised category of waste steam that is made up of cytotoxic and/or cytostatic medications, as well as any materials that may have been contaminated with them. Cytotoxic medications are often used in the therapy of malignancies as well as other disorders; thus, hospitals and several other healthcare institutions make extensive use of these medications.
It is imperative that any pharmaceutical containers containing this residue, as well as any used sharps, as well as any item such as a swab used during the treatment of cytotoxic or cytostatic drugs, be disposed of properly. If this is not done, there is a possibility that individuals will come into touch with them.
Cytotoxic waste is a dangerous substance, and unexpected exposure to it may cause symptoms such as stomach discomfort, vomiting, liver damage, and foetal death or deformities in the offspring of pregnant women.
Offensive Waste
Offensive waste is defined as waste that does not come from a therapeutic setting, does not carry infection, and does not include any chemical compounds or drugs.
Even though it is not dangerous, coming into touch with it may be an unpleasant experience. It contains personal protective equipment (PPE) that has not been tainted with bodily fluids and, as a result, does not present a danger of infection. Additionally, it includes items such as old dressings, stoma or catheter bags, diapers, incontinence pads, and pregnancy waste.
Sharps Waste
The term “sharps” refers to any kind of waste that is capable of piercing or puncturing the flesh. Needles and syringes are two primary examples of the types of sharp medical implements that are routinely used in a variety of healthcare settings. After usage, it is important to dispose of these components properly to maintain the safety of healthcare professionals, patients, and the environment. To guarantee that your company is efficiently managing this prevalent waste stream, it is necessary to ensure that enough time is taken to thoroughly grasp what is required in the safe disposal of sharps waste.
Anatomical Waste
All anatomical waste must be disposed of securely within the appropriate waste stream. This includes things like recognisable body parts and placentas as well as other organs and tissues. Even though anatomical waste does not pose a threat to human health, it must nonetheless be handled appropriately owing to the delicate nature of the material if it is suddenly found.
Dangers to Human Health
Waste from healthcare facilities can be contaminated with germs from contagious patients, as was previously mentioned. If they are not handled and disposed of following the protocol established by your organisation, you run the risk of putting everyone who comes into touch with them in danger. Patients, other people working in healthcare, those who handle or process waste, or members of the general public might fall under this category.
In addition, needles and other sharp objects that have been improperly disposed of have the potential to inflict injuries that range from minor to severe. If a puncture wound occurs, for instance, it has the potential to transmit infections such as hepatitis A, B, or C. Other possible infections include HIV and syphilis. You may be putting the well-being of the people whose job it is to manage and organise waste from medical facilities at risk as well.
Environmental Risks
If you improperly dispose of waste from healthcare facilities, you should be mindful not only of the hazards to human health but also of the potential effects to the environment that might result from your actions. For instance, if you put chemically contaminated dressings in the general waste stream rather than the clinical waste stream that takes chemicals and pharmaceuticals, this would then be subjected to a treatment procedure that is different from what is required or intended for it to go through. This indicates that the hazardous material has a chance of being disposed of in landfills, where it will almost certainly poison the soil and may cause groundwater contamination.
Waste generated by healthcare facilities is dependent on the following critical elements (WHO):
- Putting together a complete medical waste disposal system that addresses duties, resource distribution, and management of waste products.
- Increasing awareness of the dangers associated with waste in the healthcare industry, as well as safe and effective measures;
- To shield humans from potential dangers throughout the process of medical waste collection which includes processing, storing, transporting, treating, or disposing of waste. It is important to adopt management methods that are safe and kind to the environment.
Wrapping Up
The reduction of threats to both human health and the environment is one of the primary advantages that can be gained from the proper disposal of clinical waste. This is why it is important to team up with local experts for a customised clinical waste solution for your facility.
