In general terminology, medical wastes are discarded materials that were used in medical-related occasions. These usually came from hospitals and other health care facilities and institutions. Unlike the common household and market garbage, medical wastes are considered hazardous due to the materials that may contain potentially infectious substances like body fluids and blood. As such, proper disposal of such waste is important to avoid the spread of potential viruses and contamination of the environment.
And with the booming sector of health and science, on average, approximately thirteen pounds of these materials are being disposed every day – the number gradually increased through time. In light of this, below are compiled concepts and processes on how to deal with medical wastes properly. These basics will surely help common individuals comprehend safety in doing such practice.
Keeping the wastes in a proper container
The very first step in properly disposing of medical wastes is containing the said material in a proper receptacle. People should remember that it is important for any potentially hazardous materials not to be exposed to reduce the risk of spreading viruses and infections. Besides, the container that will be used must be airtight and must have a unique color and label to differ itself from the other dumps; an ordinary box or plastic bag is not enough to contain such materials.
The medical waste hauler
Medical waste haulers are individuals who take the role of picking the garbage up. They schedule their work depending on the quantity accumulated for such an institution. In a proper medical waste disposal¸ transacting with these professionals are part of the job. They deliver the wastes into the treatment facility where it will be scanned to show the contents, the origin, and other related data such as the weight and size.
The sterilization and grinding processes
After the contents were scanned, the wastes will be transferred into a waste bucket. This bucket collects and contains all the materials that will be get rid of during that period. In the sterilization process, the operator will be feeding the entity into a machine where the contents will primarily be sterilized. As the operation proceeds, the used container will be moved for decontamination – the process ensures that any remaining potentially hazardous residues or substances will be removed.
After being sterilized, the grinding process begins. This uses a machine that has a strong shredder designed to prevent probable blockage of wastes. As the process comes to an end, the elements will be in smaller sizes – lesser than an inch. For the remaining liquid and solid materials, they will be routed back to a tunnel for total decontamination.
Moving of the disposed of wastes
The last process of proper medical waste disposal is the removal of the shredded materials outside the treatment facility. Just like the common household garbage, these materials will be transferred into a local garbage institution where they will remain until decomposition through time. Since the entities are officially decontaminated, generally, they are considered as safe for any potential hazards.
