Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Essential Information On Biomedical Waste Florida Residents Need To Know

By Lela Perkins


Medical care is intended to minimize health risks and improve our general wellbeing. However, most of the wastes that result from the provision of the services are hazardous and have a potential of causing a wide range of infections. The nature of biomedical waste Florida based medical centers generate are hazardous and need proper management to enhance the safety of residents.

Biomedical wastes require specific management and treatment prior to its disposal. These materials have to be segregated at the point of generation, treated and disposed safely. The improper management of these wastes has become a worldwide humanitarian topic in the world today. These wastes have been classified into eight categories by the World Health Organization (WHO). These are general wastes, chemical, radioactive, pathological, sharps, pressurized containers, pharmaceuticals and infectious and potentially infectious materials.

There are various challenges associated with the failure to address the issues caused by these wastes. Their accumulation in the environment may produce unpleasant smell, contaminate the environment and stimulate the encroachment of unwanted vectors such as worms, insects and rodents. It may also increase the transmission of hepatitis, cholera and AIDS when individuals come in contact with contaminated instruments. It also leads to the spread of communicable diseases that are transmitted through body fluids.

There are several methods that can be used to ensure proper management of these materials. These include incineration technology, non-incineration technology, autoclaving, microwave irradiation, chemical methods and plasma pyrolysis. Medical waste is a heterogeneous mixture which makes it very difficult to manage. This process is simplified by adopting a suitable management plan.

Medical activities are known to generate a wide range of wastes. The wastes generated depend on various factors. These include methods employed in the management of the materials, available resources and infrastructure, specialization, occupancy and type of the healthcare units. The materials generated include soiled dressings, diagnostic samples, used syringes and needles, pharmaceuticals, radioactive materials among others. Failure to take care of these wastes may affect workers, community members and the environment.

Today, companies have been set up to help in the management of these substances. They help to minimize potential risks and enhance the safety of the environment. This ensures employees and customers are safe, personal and corporate risks are managed, regulations are complied with and hazardous substances are disposed appropriately.

The bio-medical materials that are not contaminated are not considered to be biohazardous. These are usually discarded in trash containers or any other designated containers. They include unused glass, unused plates, tubes and gloves, fly media or embryo plates. Treated wastes can either be discharged in sewer systems or disposed in landfills. Most of the materials generated from health facilities are treated by incineration which involves the burning of these wastes under controlled conditions.

To effectively manage these hazardous materials, it is important to come up with a management plan that takes into consideration all the aspects of the stipulated laws and regulations. Failure to adhere to these regulations attracts heavy penalties which are aimed at streamlining this process. The approach implemented must be appropriate for the materials involved. The introduction of these regulations ensures the biomedical waste Florida medical facilities generate is treated and disposed in the most appropriate way.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment