Safe Hospital Waste Disposal Tips
Tons of waste exit hospitals on a daily basis, and most of it is hazardous in nature. Every medical facility needs to have proper protocols for hospital waste disposal. Without strict hazardous waste control, both patients and healthcare workers can become infected or sick. Eliminate hazards when dealing with medical waste by following a few simple steps.
Wearing the Right Clothing
Hazards are quickly avoided when hospital waste disposal is handled in the right clothing. Healthcare workers should wear gowns, gloves and facial masks when they’re dealing with extremely dangerous waste. This protective clothing cannot have tears or cracks along any surface either. If one person is infected because of poor clothing quality, an entire healthcare department might be sickened. Ideally, purchase many gowns and other accessories to have on hand at all times.
Following Basic Hospital Waste Disposal Protocols
When healthcare facilities work with a local medical waste disposal company, both groups will put together protocols for overall safety. Disposal containers will be in specific locations and accessed with keys in some cases. Handling protocols are also important. Syringes must be added to containers in certain orientations, and fingers should never enter the container’s interior. Proper protocols set forth by the local medical waste disposal company keeps everyone safe during daily routines.
Inspecting Disposal Containers
Hazards are almost inevitable if disposal containers aren’t inspected on a regular basis. Although the containers are made of extremely tough plastic, damages can occur over time. Detachable containers may have broken latches which cause them to fall off of a wall during use. Dropped containers may crack and allow hazardous wastes to drip onto the floor. Inspect the containers and replace them as necessary to eliminate hazards.
Keeping Up With Updates
If any containers or protocols change over time, it’s critical for the facility and disposal companies to alter their routines too. Containers may need to be emptied and disinfected more often than before, for example. Any updates to container use and handling will only prevent possible hazards in the future. Ideally, at least one employee should be in charge of protocol changes.
Healthcare facilities should team up with their local medical waste disposal company, and work together toward a common safety goal. Communication needs to be strong between these entities so that everyone can remain as safe as possible. Hazardous waste can be completely controlled when every professional follows the appropriate rules.
