Today is our topic of discussion Risks and Hazards Associated with Medical Waste
Risks and Hazards Associated with Medical Waste
Injuries and accidents:
Cut-injury, punctured wound, laceration. Nurses and housekeeping personnel are most vulnerable. The documented hazards are –
- Injured by needle and fingers permanently damaged/ became curved;
- Right hands became paralyzed by the injury by a needle;
- Two legs became paralyzed due to injury by the needle;
- Skin diseases on legs and hands/ body;
- Pus due to injury sometimes; and
- Ulcer on legs.
Infectious medical waste risk:
Infectious waste contains different kind of pathogens potential for infection. The table shows examples of such pathogen and diseases caused by them-
Table of Pathogenic Organisms in Infectious Waste
Hazardous medical waste risk:
Chemicals and discarded cytotoxic drugs. The chemicals used for the staining and preservation of slides and for the sterilization and cleaning of equipment and surroundings are potentially harmful to the laboratory technician and the environment. Most of the chemicals are poured down the sink and drain out next to the clinic.
Groups at most risk:
a. Exposure to patients, visitors and workers who handle or come into proximity to waste.
b. Nursing personnel and laboratory technicians are exposed to blood and blood soaked objects from patients and should beware of the health hazard of handling any kind of blood sample or object contaminated with blood, regardless diagnosis of the patients.
c. Waste pickers; Waste recyclers; Drug addicts (who scavenge for used needles and disposed medicines); Hospital sweepers and other low-grade hospital staff.
Roles and responsibilities of concern personnel for implementation of MWM:
Medical officer (SACMO, in absence of MO):
1. Active role during the development of local level plan on medical waste management plan
2. Proper implementation of activities according to the developed plan
3. Supervision and monitoring of the in house management activities like minimization, identification, segregation, waste treatment and collection of medical waste
4. Identification and segregation of waste according to classification at the point of generation
5. Maintenance of records in relation to medical waste
6. Maintenance of Incidence registers
7. Conduction of Hands on training for the subordinate staff
8. Coordination of the different activities of medical waste management
9. Review of the performance at a regular interval
Senior staff nurse/Paramedics:
1. Proper placement of different color waste Bin according to need and service delivery in working area
2. Identification and segregation of waste according to classification at the point of generation Inno
3. Replacement of the bin during emptying of waste or any kind of damage 4. Supervision and monitoring of activities of aya, ward boy, cleaner in relation to waste management
5. Maintenance of safety measure for self and also for the workers working under himm
6. Proper reporting of any incidence like needle or any kind of prick
7. Conduction of health education session for the patient and attendant on MWM.
8. Playing active role for waste minimization and recycle
9. Monitoring of the use of protective material for the waste handlers
10. Ensuring regular cleaning of the different colour bin
11. Supervision and monitoring of the segregated waste emptying, collection treatment and final disposal
12. Providing assistance in performance appraisal of waste management , transportation, waste
Ward Master:
1. Supervision of waste collection, transportation, temporary storage and final disposal
2. Proper placement and replacement of different color bin according to need
3. Ensuring cleanliness of the bins and its surrounding
4. Identification and segregation of waste according to classification at the point of generation
5. Supervision of the activities of Ward Boy, Aya and Cleaners in relation to waste management
6. Monitoring and supervision of the wearing of protective material by the cleaners/waste handlers
7. Providing assistance during development of plan on medical waste management
8. Ensuring the security of the temporary storage area
9. Taking proper step for any incident of needle prick of the waste handlers
10. Giving advice to patient and attendant for minimizing the waste and also use of bin
11. Ensuring the control of unwanted visitors
12. Supervision of handover of the segregated medical waste to city corporation / municipality waste handlers for final disposal
Ward boy/Aya/Cook:
1. Following the directives for the placement of different colour waste bin
2. Ensuring the cleanliness of the bins and its surrounding
3. Identification and segregation of waste according to classification at the point of generation
4. Wearing protective material during handling of medical waste
5. Emptying of the waste from different colour waste bin for carrying to temporary storage area
6. Giving advice to patient and attendant for minimizing the waste and also use of bin
7. Reporting to higher authority for any needle prick or any incident
8. Providing assistance in the work of cleaners in respect of waste management
Cleaner:
1. Proper placement and replacement of different colour waste bin according to the directives of the authority
2. Ensuring the cleanliness of the bins and its surrounding
3. Identification and segregation of waste according to classification at the point of generation
4. Wearing protective material during handling, carrying and handover of medical waste
5. Emptying of the waste from different colour waste bin for carrying to temporary storage area
6. Giving advice to patient and attendant for minimizing the waste and also use of bin
7. Reporting to higher authority for any needle prick or any incident
8. Maintaining the security and cleanliness of the temporary waste storage area
9. Handover of medical waste to municipal/city corporation waste handlers
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