Medical waste is a waste that contains infectious material generated by hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and many other healthcare facilities. There are four major types of waste: general, infectious, hazardous, and radioactive. The waste can end up polluting the environment and can help in the creation of germs or can spread disease tough it is essential to dispose of the waste. The disposal of waste is a big concern as the waste is classified as infectious. The regulated medical waste disposal is a challenge to healthcare providers as they have to dispose of the material in large quantities.
Why is it necessary to be disposed of?
The waste has to be properly managed and disposed oflike it, not just a concern of healthcare providers but an environmental concern. It should be disposed to protect the environment, public and those workers who provide sanitation services. The waste has been gently handled, treated to avoid any collision. There are mainly two type’s disposals, on-site and off-site treatment.
In general, the on-site treatment is referred to asthe treatment on the same healthcare site in and by a different group, whereas off-site treatment is said to be the treatment where the waste material is transported to a different place for the regulated medical waste disposal. On-site treatment is usually expensive compared to off-site treatment as it needs expensive equipment to dispose of the regulated medical waste.
Risk of Medical Waste
Medical waste is a threat to everyone as it can spread disease and create a nuisance in the environment, and the biggest threat of waste if for the employees who work for disposing of the medical waste; they are eventually at high risk of getting infected. Though the precautions are taken for safety as everyone’s life is important. The waste is a danger if not treated, disposed, or segregated properly as toxic and infectious waste sometimes ends up with a mistake, which can be a disaster.
General precautions are taken by every handler of the disposal. They are highly suggested to wear gloves, masks, and protective eyewear throughout, and they must have to wash hands thoroughly when handling or getting in contact with contaminated waste. Every fluid is not infectious, yet most of it is treated as infectious for proper safety.
Methods to dispose
There are different and emerging ways to dispose of regulated medical waste. Some of the methods of disposing of the trash are named as Incineration, Autoclaving, Gas sterilization, Irradiation, and many. The ways are still getting evolved for the disposal. The methods are designed to protect people and staff from saving medical waste. Many of the medical waste management is created to avoid risk. They take responsibility right from the collection of waste to the disposal. They take every step with and for safety.
