Saturday 28 April 2018

Techniques Used In Medical Waste Management

By Mark Foster


The need to keep the environment clean and habitable has led to the formation of regulations that ensure all sectors to not cause pollution. The health sector has been on the forefront to ensure that the environment in which medical facilities are found remains clean. As such, several methods of Medical Waste Management have been set up to facilitate this. The discussion below outlines such techniques to help you out.

There is the use of specified chemicals to disinfect medical wastes. Only some types of this biohazard waste can be treated through application of chemicals. Some of the known refuse that can be handled through this method is the debris from animals and human. After the chemical disinfection, the litter is deposited in a landfill to avoid any further threat to the environment.

The other way of controlling such refuse is via encapsulating it in a special container. The container should have the resistance to easy puncturing. This is because this treatment is given to the sharp objects like used up syringes and needles. The objects are kept in that container and placed in a designated area as they wait being dumped in the major depositing spot.

Incineration is the other effective method that has been used to date. The refuse, in this case, is subjected to a controlled combustion process. Special technology has been incorporated to ensure that less harmful gases are released into the air after burning. The method has been used to sterilize the trash, breaking down and producing less harmful refuse and reducing the amount of refuse that gets in the last dumping site.

Use of autoclaves is also a very common method used in hospitals. The wastes are put in a closed compartment with conditions like heat, pressure or steam. They are left to be there for a considerable span when they are washed off the microorganism. This makes some equipment to be returned to use surgical knives. The autoclave can also be used to burn staff that releases fewer gases into the atmosphere.

The glass formation or vitrification is another workable way that wastes can be managed. When waste in the solid state is introduced in this process, the heat involved sterilizes it and burns some contents into gases. The remainder is then encapsulated in a glass that allows a low rate of diffusion. This means the waste will only reach the environment in little and less harmful amounts.

Use of the microwave can be the other way though not popular to manage medical refuse. Its functionality is almost like that of an autoclave. It will only work in the case semi solid or liquid waste. Water is added to the solid trash that is shredded to allow effective penetration of sterilizing heat. Shredding will ensure the final mass if the waste is reduced.

Disposing of the waste deep in the ground that has been formed specifically for the purpose is the last method. This happens in designated areas to avoid any related risks. Refuse is taken there after all other treatments have been done because the pit may be exposed to the environment. Waste that is not handled by any other method can also be disposed of if no other method is available.




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