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 Lasting Effects of Staffing Shortages in Healthcare Facilities

Staffing shortages continue to plague healthcare facilities, leading to unintended consequences for some of them.


Warren General Hospital Experiences Data Breach

The data breach occurred in late September.


OhioHealth to Open Pickerington Methodist Hospital

This facility will be OhioHealth’s fifteenth hospital, built on 30 acres of undeveloped land.


Healthcare Experts Are Integral to Better Hospital Design

Designers have begun collaborating with healthcare experts to create more functional operations.


HealthPartners Lakeview Hospital Enters Next Phase of Planning for Stillwater Campus

The new campus will be located on land the hospital acquired in 2017.


 
 


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.