Hazardous and Infectious Waste

Managing hazardous waste Hazardous waste includes chemicals and biological materials Disposal of waste in the health care industry is an important issue and is governed by hospital policy and government legislation. Disposal of waste in the health care industry is an important issue and is governed by hospital policy and government legislation. It is important to understand the correct procedures to follow for the disposal of waste in your workplace. It is important to understand the correct procedures to follow for the disposal of waste in your workplace. LOGBOOK ACTIVITY: Locate the policies manual referring to correct waste disposal. Fill in the sheet in your logbook. LOGBOOK ACTIVITY: Locate the policies manual referring to correct waste disposal. Fill in the sheet in your logbook.

Waste Waste within the Healthcare setting includes materials that fit into the following categories: General waste General waste Contaminated waste Contaminated waste Aerosol cans Aerosol cans Pharmaceutical / chemical Pharmaceutical / chemical Infectious waste Infectious waste Sharps Sharps Cytotoxic waste Cytotoxic waste

Waste. Continued… The Environmental Services Department manages the disposal of waste. The following types of waste MUST BE incinerated: Infectious waste Infectious waste Pharmaceutical waste Pharmaceutical waste All sharps All sharps Waste disposal is colour -coded so that quick identification of waste and its appropriate disposal guidelines are adhered to. Waste disposal is colour -coded so that quick identification of waste and its appropriate disposal guidelines are adhered to.

Waste Disposal Guidelines General waste GREEN plastic bag Contaminate waste BLACK plastic bag Infectious waste YELLOW plastic bag Cytotoxic waste PURPLE plastic bag Residents clothing BLUE Terylene reusable bag Deceased Residents clothing paper bags Marked PAPER bag

Infectious waste Infectious waste includes any substance containing micro-organisms or viruses posing a substantial threat to the health of human beings or the environment. Infectious waste includes any substance containing micro-organisms or viruses posing a substantial threat to the health of human beings or the environment. Infectious waste includes ALL sharps. Depending on the type of infection a client has, there are specific guidelines surrounding the treatment of the clients’ waste and linen.

Cytotoxic waste Includes: Includes: Cytotoxic drugs Cytotoxic drugs Needles and syringes used in the treatment Needles and syringes used in the treatment IV sets IV sets Ampoules / vials Ampoules / vials Disposable gloves, gowns, caps and swabs Disposable gloves, gowns, caps and swabs

The colour code for cytotoxic waste is purple, the method of disposal is different from other kinds of waste; cytotoxic waste is disposed of by controlled high temperature incineration. Cytotoxic waste warning signs should be displayed at the patient’s bed head, sharps box, cytotoxic waste bag and cytotoxic waste carton. The colour code for cytotoxic waste is purple, the method of disposal is different from other kinds of waste; cytotoxic waste is disposed of by controlled high temperature incineration. Cytotoxic waste warning signs should be displayed at the patient’s bed head, sharps box, cytotoxic waste bag and cytotoxic waste carton.

Sharps Placed in hard walled sharps container (purple) or yellow sharps container with cytotoxic label attached. Containers taped down and placed in purple cytotoxic waste bag, taped closed, identified with cytotoxic waste label and collected by environmental services staff. Placed in hard walled sharps container (purple) or yellow sharps container with cytotoxic label attached. Containers taped down and placed in purple cytotoxic waste bag, taped closed, identified with cytotoxic waste label and collected by environmental services staff.

Linen Non contaminated linen is treated as normal linen Non contaminated linen is treated as normal linen Contaminated linen is double bagged into alginate bag and then into yellow linen bag, not placed with general linen, stored separately for collection and staff advised that it is contaminated cytotoxic linen. Contaminated linen is double bagged into alginate bag and then into yellow linen bag, not placed with general linen, stored separately for collection and staff advised that it is contaminated cytotoxic linen.

Leakage from cytotoxic waste is identified and cleaned up using the correct protocol immediately. A spillage kit must be on the ward before administration of chemotherapy. Leakage from cytotoxic waste is identified and cleaned up using the correct protocol immediately. A spillage kit must be on the ward before administration of chemotherapy.

If you are contaminated with cytotoxic waste / chemical / drug Follow the correct hospital policy and procedure Follow the correct hospital policy and procedure Wash / shower immediately Wash / shower immediately Contact supervisor Contact supervisor Change contaminated clothing Change contaminated clothing Complete incident form Complete incident form

If the patient is contaminated with cytotoxic waste / chemical / drug Follow the correct hospital policy and procedure Follow the correct hospital policy and procedure Wash / shower patient immediately Wash / shower patient immediately Change contaminated clothing Change contaminated clothing Change contaminated bed linen and dispose of appropriately Change contaminated bed linen and dispose of appropriately Contact supervisor Contact supervisor Complete incident form Complete incident form

Hazard management for cytotoxic drugs and related waste Follow policy and procedure Follow policy and procedure Education and training Education and training Correct use of equipment Correct use of equipment Report and record any exposure – accident investigation Report and record any exposure – accident investigation Maintain standard precautions Maintain standard precautions Update new technologies or medications Update new technologies or medications Long sleeve gown (impervious), gloves, goggles for IV admin Long sleeve gown (impervious), gloves, goggles for IV admin Appropriate administration by a Registered Nurse Appropriate administration by a Registered Nurse Extravasation and spill kits plus instructions kept on site Extravasation and spill kits plus instructions kept on site Unused dugs to be returned to pharmacy Unused dugs to be returned to pharmacy No touch techniques No touch techniques Appropriate use of PPE Appropriate use of PPE

Protection surrounding infectious waste exposure and disposal Refer to the policy and procedures manual of the organisation Refer to the policy and procedures manual of the organisation Information and training provided by supervisors is needed Information and training provided by supervisors is needed Ensuring safe work practices are adhered to eg. PPE Ensuring safe work practices are adhered to eg. PPE Maintaining equipment appropriately Maintaining equipment appropriately Correct signage Correct signage Report any potential problems that could cause injury Report any potential problems that could cause injury