Importance Of Proper Healthcare Waste Disposal
12/19/2022
Healthcare waste involves a wide range of materials such as used needles and syringes, body parts, blood, pharmaceuticals, radioactive materials, soiled dressings, diagnostic samples, chemicals, and medical devices.
The lack of a proper system to dispose of this type of waste can lead to disastrous consequences.
Healthcare waste management impacts each person that works in a hospital setting, which is why each person should be trained and educated on how the processes of healthcare waste handling and disposal can directly impact infection control.
Waste and by-products can cause injuries such as:
• Radiation burns
• Poisoning and pollution through the release of pharmaceutical products particularly cytotoxic drugs and antibiotics
• Poisoning and pollution by toxic compounds or elements such as mercury or dioxins released during incineration
• Sharps-inflicted injuries
• Poisoning and pollution through waste water
Healthcare waste comes from all sorts of sources, specifically:
• Hospitals and other healthcare establishments
• Mortuary and autopsy centers
• Blood banks and collection services
• Laboratories and research centers
• Animal research and testing laboratories
• Elderly nursing homes
At its foundation, healthcare waste management helps make the environment safer for employees and patients. It can also reduce the operational costs of the facilities, as well as improve the local environment and foster the relationship with the community.
A comprehensive system, proper resource allocation, and commitment and support from the community, among other things, are what is necessary to improve healthcare waste management. It is a long-term process, with gradual improvements. But it is necessary for the sake of the community’s safety.
The lack of a proper system to dispose of this type of waste can lead to disastrous consequences.
Healthcare waste management impacts each person that works in a hospital setting, which is why each person should be trained and educated on how the processes of healthcare waste handling and disposal can directly impact infection control.
Waste and by-products can cause injuries such as:
• Radiation burns
• Poisoning and pollution through the release of pharmaceutical products particularly cytotoxic drugs and antibiotics
• Poisoning and pollution by toxic compounds or elements such as mercury or dioxins released during incineration
• Sharps-inflicted injuries
• Poisoning and pollution through waste water
Healthcare waste comes from all sorts of sources, specifically:
• Hospitals and other healthcare establishments
• Mortuary and autopsy centers
• Blood banks and collection services
• Laboratories and research centers
• Animal research and testing laboratories
• Elderly nursing homes
At its foundation, healthcare waste management helps make the environment safer for employees and patients. It can also reduce the operational costs of the facilities, as well as improve the local environment and foster the relationship with the community.
A comprehensive system, proper resource allocation, and commitment and support from the community, among other things, are what is necessary to improve healthcare waste management. It is a long-term process, with gradual improvements. But it is necessary for the sake of the community’s safety.