WHO (1999) stated that waste segregation is the
act of separating waste of different categories prior to storage. Careful
segregation of hospital waste from non-hospital waste or of one group of
hospital waste from the other is essential for effective management. The
segregation is expected to be done at source by the doctors, nurses or other
personnel generating the waste and should be placed in suitable containers
which should be leak proof to ensure that handlers and the public are protected
from the effect of the exposure of the waste. The waste
act of separating waste of different categories prior to storage. Careful
segregation of hospital waste from non-hospital waste or of one group of
hospital waste from the other is essential for effective management. The
segregation is expected to be done at source by the doctors, nurses or other
personnel generating the waste and should be placed in suitable containers
which should be leak proof to ensure that handlers and the public are protected
from the effect of the exposure of the waste. The waste
storage sacks, bags,
cellophane, should be properly sealed and labelled with the ward or section of
origin.
Thus waste can be adequately segregated as
follows;
follows;
Group A Waste: These should be placed in
suitable black waste storage sacks or containers or lockable wheel plastic or
iron vessel. They should be impervious to moisture and of strength sufficient
to resist ripping, tearing or bursting under normal condition of use and
labelled hospital waste when filled for collection. The baggage or container
should be sealed and marked with the ward or section of origin.
suitable black waste storage sacks or containers or lockable wheel plastic or
iron vessel. They should be impervious to moisture and of strength sufficient
to resist ripping, tearing or bursting under normal condition of use and
labelled hospital waste when filled for collection. The baggage or container
should be sealed and marked with the ward or section of origin.
Group B Waste: Sharp objects should be put
into containers that conform to accepted standards. Also sharp containers
should be sealed and labelled as to their origin after 5 days of use or when
full, which ever occurs first. Damage containers should be placed in a larger
in a larger container which should be properly labelled and must be kept above
the ground level. All sharp objects should be decontaminated and at the same
time destroyed to remove their potential to ensure physical harm.
into containers that conform to accepted standards. Also sharp containers
should be sealed and labelled as to their origin after 5 days of use or when
full, which ever occurs first. Damage containers should be placed in a larger
in a larger container which should be properly labelled and must be kept above
the ground level. All sharp objects should be decontaminated and at the same
time destroyed to remove their potential to ensure physical harm.
Group C Waste: These are microbiological cutters and
potentially infectious waste from hospital laboratories which should be
autoclaved on site at 211°C for 15
minutes prior to disposal site. Waste marked for autoclaved bags. The treated
materials should be placed and labelled into sacks or containers for disposal
in accordance with the guidance for group A waste.
potentially infectious waste from hospital laboratories which should be
autoclaved on site at 211°C for 15
minutes prior to disposal site. Waste marked for autoclaved bags. The treated
materials should be placed and labelled into sacks or containers for disposal
in accordance with the guidance for group A waste.
Group D Waste: The unused or expired pharmaceutical and cytotoxic
waste of less than 1% of hospital waste stream should be collected by a
responsible (professional) person probably in the hospital pharmacy. These
should be catalogued and stored under lock and key in approved and audited
location. Once accumulated volumes reached feasible proportion, arrangements
should be undertaken with the waste manager for the waste to be transported to
a suitable facility possessing an incinerator or plasma thermal system capable
of attaining above 1000°C which
is the approved manners for their final disposal.
waste of less than 1% of hospital waste stream should be collected by a
responsible (professional) person probably in the hospital pharmacy. These
should be catalogued and stored under lock and key in approved and audited
location. Once accumulated volumes reached feasible proportion, arrangements
should be undertaken with the waste manager for the waste to be transported to
a suitable facility possessing an incinerator or plasma thermal system capable
of attaining above 1000°C which
is the approved manners for their final disposal.
Reference
World Health Organisation
(1999). Safe Management of Waste from Health Care Activities. WHO Training
Leaflet No. 1. Geneva: Health Care Waste Series.
(1999). Safe Management of Waste from Health Care Activities. WHO Training
Leaflet No. 1. Geneva: Health Care Waste Series.