These wastes are a potential risk to health because they may contain microorganisms and dangerous substances derived from treatments, which can be harmful to other patients (in the case of hospitals, nursing homes, day centres, etc.), to healthcare personnel, to the environment and to the general population. Hence the importance of proper management and control of these wastes, from their generation to their treatment and final disposal.
What do we mean by healthcare waste?
Healthcare or hospital waste is waste generated during healthcare activities. It comes mainly from hospitals, health centres, healthcare facilities, research laboratories, centres where autopsies are performed, blood banks, donation centres, nursing homes and, lastly, due to the pandemic, from homes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Of all the waste generated by health care activities, approximately 85% is non-hazardous common waste, similar to household waste. The remaining 15% is considered hazardous material that may be infectious, toxic or radioactive.” Therefore, proper management of this waste is especially important to avoid environmental contamination.
Healthcare waste management:
The Spanish legal system does not have specific regulations on the management of healthcare waste, and the general regime on the matter reflected in the following applies:
Law 22/2011 on Waste and Contaminated Soils.
Royal Decree 833/1988 on toxic and hazardous waste.
Law 11/1997 on packaging and packaging waste.
At the regional level, some autonomous communities establish their own regulations (in the form of decrees) for the management of waste from healthcare establishments in their territory.
In general, to properly manage healthcare waste, it is classified into different groups, which will be treated differently depending on their hazardousness:
Classification of healthcare waste.
Group I: Waste similar to municipal waste
These are those that do not pose special requirements in their management (cardboard, paper, office and workroom materials, kitchens, bars and dining rooms, workshops, gardening, etc.)
Group II: Non-specific healthcare waste
This waste includes dressing material, plasters, clothing and single-use material contaminated with blood, secretions and/or excretions, all of which are not included in the waste classified as specific healthcare waste. This waste requires preventive measures in handling, collection, storage and transport, only within the scope of the healthcare centre.
Group III: Specific health waste at risk
These include healthcare or infectious waste, anatomical waste, blood and blood products, needles and sharp and cutting materials, and live or attenuated vaccines. We must specifically manage this waste, both inside and outside the centre where it is generated.
Waste is waste whose management is subject to special requirements from a hygienic and environmental point of view, both inside and outside the generating centre. This waste includes: Cytostatic waste, remains of chemical substance kuwait telephone number s, expired medicines, mineral and synthetic oils, waste with metals, radioactive waste and human anatomical remains with significance (corpses and remains from abortions or surgical operations).
Food and drink residues in a hospital awaiting treatment
Stages in the management of healthcare waste
Collection
Collection is carried out by classifying each type of healthcare waste at the place where it is generated, so that healthcare waste from different groups is not deposited in the same container. At the same time, the collection of healthcare waste must meet the criteria of asepsis, safety and economy.
For waste identification, coloured containers, symbols and different containers are used:
Colours : Using colours to identify different containers makes the work of operators easier when sorting, as well as avoiding errors during the transport, storage and treatment phases of waste. The simplest, most economical and most direct way is to use two colours: “Black” for common waste and “Red” for hazardous waste.
Symbols : The symbols (universally known) are those of danger and radioactivity.
Types of packaging : for the segregation of health waste we can use:
Plastic bags: These are the appropriate containers for solid waste without free liquids. They must be resistant and waterproof so that there are no leaks or spills. If the final treatment of the waste is sterilization, special autoclave bags must be used, which allow steam to penetrate without melting them.
Rigid packaging:
For sharp objects (e.g. needles): made of rigid plastic material resistant to puncture, impacts and falls; waterproof to prevent liquid leaks; provided with a system that prevents the discarded objects from being removed; red or yellow with a label identifying them as “Sharp Objects” and with the universal biohazard symbol.
For solids that can drain abundant liquids: They are rigid, impermeable containers with secure, airtight closures to prevent spills of drainage liquids.
For glass: Glass waste must only be collected in a glass container. These containers are usually made of plastic or metal, cylindrical or cubic in shape. All containers are marked with the inscription "Glass waste only".
Chemical waste will be deposited in blue drums, such as halogenated solvents, acids, mercury, etc.
Collection and treatment of health waste
Intra-center transport
The medical waste collected in the different areas of the centre will be transported to the medical waste warehouse before 12 noon.
Containers and transport systems will be cleaned with pressurized water and detergents.
Waste bags and containers must not be left in places other than the area where they were generated or in the sanitary waste warehouse.
To prevent bags from breaking during transport of waste within a healthcare facility, thick bags should be used, bags should be placed on a horizontal surface (without stacking them on top of each other), the level on transport carts should not be exceeded and bags should not be dragged along the floor.
Personnel transporting waste must wear puncture-resistant gloves, goggles or masks to prevent splashes, and clothing exclusively for this job. They must also have a bathroom with a shower and clean clothes at the end of the day.
Storage
Sanitary waste will not be stored for more than 72 hours.
The warehouse will be ventilated, well lit, properly signposted and equipped to be able to disinfect and clean it.
The warehouse may be closed, will have easy access, and will be protected from the weather, high temperatures and animals.
Access to it will only be permitted to authorized personnel.