Tips on handling potentially hazardous medical waste

Sometimes seemingly minute details can fall through the cracks


When healthcare facilities focused on the policies, procedures and regulations for disposing of infectious medical waste, sometimes minute details can fall through the cracks, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.

For example, considering how much waste is disposed into each biocontamination bag. It's advisable to only fill trashbags two-thirds of the way. 

There is less risk of contaminated waste spilling out of the bag, and staff are less likely to sustain an injury from a bag that is too heavy.

On University of Nebraska Medical Center's biocontainment unit, healthcare workers double-bag all solid waste in clear autoclaved bags. Once the bag is secured, a staff member (in full PPE) places the bag in a pass through autoclave located within the isolation unit and/or to a waste holding container. Once sterilized, the waste is placed in a red biohazard bag, bag top twisted, goose necked and placed inside a medical waste shipping box for incineration, according to the article.

Read the article.

 

 



November 13, 2015


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

The Role of Lighting in Patient Well-Being and Recovery

Lighting manufacturers discuss how certain types of lighting impacts a patient’s mood and health.


Third-Party Vendors May Pose Healthcare Cybersecurity Risks

CMS and WPS alerted individuals about a potential data breach from the third-party software MOVEit.


Palomar Health Breaks Ground on Behavioral Health Institute

The two-story facility will have 120 beds and provide 84,700 square feet of indoor and outdoor recovery space.


UNC Health Rex Files Plans for New Wake Forest Hospital

The plans will have to be approved by North Carolina’s CON office.


6 Steps to Reshaping Hybrid Healthcare Workplaces

A more enjoyable workplace can be a powerful tool for helping an organization thrive.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.