This is a document that shows how every one should do in health care program and whow you can make your waste to be non infectious.this is essential for all health care

1. LABORATORY WASTE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

2. Training objectives
By the end of this unit you should be able
to:
 Define the health care waste (HCW)
 Classify health care waste based on
characteristics
 Describe the key steps in health care
waste management

3. Training objectives cont.
 Describe the safety precautions in
managing HCW
 Describe safe HCW treatment and
disposal options
 Develop a laboratory waste
management plan

4. Why manage waste?
•To protect human health & the environment.
•To minimize the generation of hazardous
waste.
•Hazardous Waste Management Programs are
designed to meet or exceed compliance with
National and/or local Regulations

5. Who is Responsible?
It is the responsibility of the person
generating the waste to ensure that
all procedures are followed to
ensure safe and environmentally
responsible disposal of waste.

6. What is Waste?
This refers to any substance or object which
is intended for disposal by the provisions
of the national law NEMA Act
Waste includes left over products generated
at the end of a process or action.
Any “discarded material” that is not excluded from
the definition of hazardous waste.

7. What is Health care waste?
This refers to all the waste from
healthcare facilities, research facilities
and laboratories.
 It may be in form of solid or liquid.

8. Hazardous waste
 A waste, or combination of wastes, which
because of its quantity, concentration, or
physical characteristics may either cause
or significantly contribute to an increase in
mortality or an increase in serious
irreversible, or incapacitating illness, pose
a substantial present or potential hazard to
human health or the environment when
improperly treated, stored, transported,
disposed of, or otherwise managed.

9. Biohazard waste
 A Biohazard refers to a biological
substance that may pose a threat to
the health and safety of humans,
animals or the environment.

10. Classification of healthcare
waste
 Health care waste is broadly classified
as
 Hazardous
 Non-hazardous
 WHO estimates hazardous waste to
constitute about 20% of the all
healthcare waste generated.
 On the other hand, 80% of waste
generated is considered to be non-
hazardous.

11. WHO Regional Office for Europe Healthcare Waste Management Training – CIS Countries
Overview Classification
Healthcare
waste
Non-hazardous
waste
Hazardous
waste
General waste
Recyclable and reusable materials
Infectious waste
Pharmaceutical
waste
Cytotoxic waste
Pathological
waste
Sharps waste
Radioactive waste
Highly infectious waste
Chemical waste
Pressurized container
Waste with high content of heavy
metals
Infectious waste
Other hazardous pharmaceutical waste
Other hazardous chemical waste

12. Categories of hazardous
waste
 Sharps
 Infectious waste
 Pathological waste
 Pharmaceutical waste
 Radioactive waste
 Genotoxic
 Chemical
 Wastes with high content of metals
 Pressurized containers

13. Sharps
Sharps are items that could cause cuts or
puncture on the skin. They include
• Needles
• Infusion sets
• Scalpels
• Broken glass
Sharps are the main cause of occupational
exposure mechanisms to blood borne
pathogens.

14. Assembling safety box
 Safety boxes are very essential in
protecting us from used sharps. It is
important therefore that we know how
to assemble, use, store and dispose
them.

15. Infectious waste
This refers to waste
suspected to be
contaminated with
pathogenic organisms.
Examples include;
 Cultures
 Surgical waste
 Infected laboratory
animals

16. Pathological waste
 Pathological waste consists of;
 Body parts
 Animal carcasses
 Body fluids.
Within this category, recognizable
human or animal body parts are also
called anatomical waste.

17. Pharmaceutical waste
 Pharmaceutical waste includes
expired, spilt, and contaminated
pharmaceutical products. Eg
drugs,vaccines,and sera.
 The category also includes discarded
items used in the handling of
pharmaceuticals, such as bottles or
boxes with residues, and drug vials.

18. Radioactive waste
 Radioactive waste includes solid,
liquid, and gaseous materials
contaminated with radionuclide.
 Radioactive waste is mostly created
during research, investigation and
cancer treatment. Radioactive waste
is highly hazardous waste.

19. Chemical waste
Chemical waste consists of discarded
solid, liquid, and gaseous chemicals
 Examples in this category include;
solvents, organic and inorganic
chemicals.
 Wastes containing heavy metal content
are a sub category of chemical waste
and are usually highly toxic.
Please refer to chemicals
management.

20. MSDS and waste
management
Material Safety Data Sheet
 Describes the hazards of a product
and explains how a product can be
safely handled, used, stored and
disposed.

21. Cytotoxic waste
 The term cytotoxic: used to describe materials that are
destructive to cells. Cytotoxic drugs are pharmacological agents
that inhibit the reproduction of cells, primarily used for the
treatment of cancer.
Cytotoxic waste includes
◦ Any unwanted cytotoxic drug preparations;
◦ Disposable laboratory consumables and sharps that may
have been contaminated with cytotoxic material;
◦ The carcasses of animals treated with cytotoxic drugs and
associated animal bedding.
 Cytotoxic waste must be segregated from all other waste
streams and packaged in purple cytotoxic waste bags or
cytotoxic sharps containers displaying the telophase cytotoxic
symbol and the words “CYTOTOXIC WASTE – INCINERATE AT
1100. CELSIUS”.
 The bags and sharps containers must then be placed into a
Purple Cytotoxic Clinical Waste Bin.

22. Animal waste
 Animal bedding, carcasses, and tissue should be
placed in biohazard bags by the research staff.
 All animal bedding should be autoclaved before
being placed in medical waste bins by animal care
staff and disposed of by incineration.
 Bagged animal carcasses and tissue can be placed
in storage freezers or removed by animal care or lab
staff to the incineration facility.

23. Mixed Waste disposal Procedures
 Radioactive & Chemical waste: Store until the radiation
has decayed to less than 100 Bq/g and then dispose of
as chemical waste.
 Biological & Chemical waste: Treat primarily as
biological waste.
 Radioactive & Biological waste: Store until the radiation
has decayed to less than 100 Bq/g (in freezer) and then
dispose of as biological waste.
 Radioactive, Biological & Chemical: Store until the
radiation has decayed to less than 100 Bq/g (in freezer)
and then dispose of as biological waste.

24. Non- hazardous waste
 This is also referred to as general or
non-infectious waste.
 Examples of this type of waste
◦ paper, wrappings, and food remains.

25. Waste Management
Processes
Segregation
Packaging
Labeling
Handling and storage
Transportation
Disposal

26. Waste Minimization
Minimization refers to approaches
adopted by the health facilities to reduce
the amount of Healthcare waste
 Strategies to reduce unnecessary
injections.
 Recycling or reusing some of the
materials.

27. Waste minimization
• Source reduction
• Stock management
• Encourage the use of recyclable
products
• Centralized purchase and
monitoring the receipt and supply
procedure of medical goods

28. Waste segregation.../1
• Segregation means separation of the
entire waste generated in a facility and
keeping different kinds of waste separate
in defined waste categories.
• Waste segregation ensures that the
waste will be treated according to the
hazards of the waste, correct disposal
routes and correct transportation
equipment used.

29. Waste segregation.../2
Importance of Segregation
•Facilitates the safe handling of wastes
Separates recyclable waste from hazardous
waste
Ensures that waste is treated according to its
hazards.
Reduces overall costs of transport, treatment
and disposal.

30. Waste segregation.../3
Categories: The MOH recommends waste segregation
into the following categories:
 General or Non-infectious waste – disposed of as
general, “household” waste. Some materials such as
uncontaminated paper and plastic can be recycled.
 Infectious waste – Contaminated material for
autoclaving and disposal
 Highly infectious, anatomical and pathological waste
–
 Sharps waste – These should always be collected in
puncture resistant containers fitted with covers.
Individual health facility may include other categories in
addition to the above, such as food remains, bottles
etc.

31. Waste segregation.../4

32. Important to remember
 Healthcare workers should segregate waste
at the point of generation.
 Waste should NEVER be re-sorted.
 All waste containers should be sealed and
labelled to describe contents.
Correct disposal route can be selected based
on the information on the labels

33. Packaging and labeling
Labelling should be completed accurately
and should contain the following
information:
 Waste type
 Waste generator (ward or department)

34. Packaging and labeling Cont.
 Date of generation
 Name of the person completing the
label
 Hazard symbol

35. Decontamination
This is the process applied to render the
object/material safe by reducing or removing
the bio-burden. There are several methods that
can be used for example:
– Chemical
– Physical - Heat, steam and pressure
– Incineration
– Other choices e.g. shredding
• Steam autoclaving is the preferred method of
all decontamination processes.
• Infectious waste should be autoclaved before
leaving the lab

36.  Wash hands for 20-30 seconds after:
 Handling infectious materials or animals
 Removing gloves
 Before leaving lab
Personal Decontamination after handling
waste

37. Storage
 Healthcare waste must be stored in a safe place.
 Keep boxes in a secure location
 Keep safety boxes dry.
 Keep written record of number of safety boxes
received and disposed.
 Store safety boxes not more than one week

38. Storage area
The following are recommendations for storage
area and its equipment:
 The floor should be hard-standing with good
drainage and be easy to clean and disinfect.
 There should be water supply for cleaning
purposes.
 Should be protected from the sun.

39. Storage area cont.
 The area should be clearly demarcated
& warning trespassers
 The storage area should afford easy
access for staff in charge of handling the
waste.
 It should be possible to lock the store to
prevent access by unauthorized persons.
 Easy access for waste-collection
vehicles is essential.

40. Storage area cont.
 Supply of clean equipment, protective
clothing, and waste bags or containers
should be located conveniently close
to the storage areas
 Supply of clean equipment, protective
clothing, and waste bags or containers
should be located conveniently close
to the storage areas

41. Storage area cont.
 The storage area should be
inaccessible to insects and rodents.
 There should be good lighting and at
least passive ventilation.
 The storage area should not be
located close to patient areas, or to
fresh food stores or food preparation
areas.

42. Collection
oWaste should be collected daily
oSpecific routes should be planned
oBags should be labeled
oBags or containers should be replaced
immediately
oSupply of fresh collection bags or
containers should be readily available

43. Collection
• The person in charge should
ensure that adequate supplies
(3 months) are available
• Transportation trolleys should
be dedicated for infectious
waste only
• The logistics staff should be
specially
• SOPs for the handling of
accidents and spillages must
be readily available
• Spill kits should be available

44. Transportation of waste
Movement of waste from one place to
another
• either on-site or off-site
 Keep boxes upright and avoid direct
contact of safety boxes with other waste
or medical supplies in the same vehicle.
 Keep safety boxes dry.
 Be sure you are aware of the transport
schedule.
 Use designated trolley or wheel barrel

45. Biological Waste Treatment
There are different methods of treatment
of biohazard materials which include:
• Autoclaving
• Chemical Inactivation/Disinfection
• Incineration

46. Autoclaving
 An autoclave testing program must be routinely
administered according to the manufacturer’s
recommendations. Such tests may consist of
culture, tape color change or other
recommended procedure.
 Autoclave testing, repair and use records must
be properly maintained.
 Annual testing of Autoclaves by a competent
authority is a requirement in several countries.

47. Incineration
 Thermal treatment
◦ Can destroy pathogens and toxins by high temperatures
 Reduce volume of original waste by 95+%
◦ Significantly reduces amount of waste sent to landfill
 Waste converted into ash, flue gases, and heat
 Flue gases may be required to be cleaned of
pollutants before released to atmosphere
 Incinerators need to be properly designed,
constructed, operated, and maintained to protect
environment and human health

48. Waste Disposal
 Sanitary landfill
◦ Properly constructed and operated land fill sites
for municipal solid waste including healthcare
wastes.
◦ Treated healthcare waste can be safely
disposed off in sanitary landfill site
Safe burial practices:
◦ Every time waste is added to the pit, cover it
with a layer of soil.
◦ When the level of waste reaches to within 30-50
cm of the surface, fill the pit with soil.
◦ The filled pit should be marked with a peg or
some other mechanism.

49. Developing a Laboratory Waste
management plan
 Designate a responsible person
 Conduct an HCWM survey and invite
suggestions.
 Recommend improvements and prepare
a set of arrangements for their
implementation.
 Draft the HCWM plan.
 Approval and implementation.
 Review the HCWM plan.

50. Summary
 Proper Waste management practice is a
continuous improvement process.
 Waste minimization reduces cost, damage
and protects public health.
 SOPs on facility waste management plan
should be available
 Proper labeling of waste bags should be
done before disposal.
 Waste should not be accumulated in the
point of generation
 Develop a waste management plan

51. KEEP SAFE

52. THANK YOU