Infectious waste can be transported together with used sharps waste. Infectious waste should not be • transported together with other hazardous waste, to prevent the possible spread of infectious agents. Trolleys should be coloured in the appropriate colour code for infectious waste (yellow) and should be labelled with an waste” sign. “Infectious Other hazardous waste, such as chemical and pharmaceutical wastes, should be transported • separately in boxes to central storage sites. The use of waste chutes in health-care facilities is not recommended, because they can increase the risk of transmitting airborne infections. trolleys Health-care waste can be bulky and heavy and should be transported using wheeled trolleys or carts that are not used for any other purpose. To avoid injuries and infection transmission, trolleys and carts should: be easy to load and unload • have no sharp edges that could damage waste bags or containers during loading and unloading • be easy to clean and, if enclosed, fitted with a drainage hole and plug • be labelled and dedicated to a particular waste type • be easy to push and pull • not be too high (to avoid restricting the view of staff transporting waste) • be secured with a lock (for hazardous waste) • be appropriately sized according to the volumes of waste generated at a health-care facility. Waste, • especially hazardous waste, should never be transported by hand due to the risk of accident or injury from infectious material or incorrectly disposed sharps that may protrude from a container. trolleys should be available in case of breakdowns and maintenance. The vehicles should be cleaned and disinfected daily. All waste bag seals should be in place and intact at the end of transportation. Routing Separate hazardous and non-hazardous routes should be planned and used. In general, a waste route should follow the principle clean to dirty”. Collection should start from the most hygienically “from sensitive medical areas (e.g. intensive care, dialysis, theatres) and follow a fixed route around other medical areas and interim storage locations. The frequency of collection should be refined through experience to ensure that there are no overflowing waste containers at any time. Biologically active waste (e.g. infectious waste) must be collected at least daily. A routing plan would be influenced by:
• Infectious waste can be transported together with used sharps waste. Infectious waste should not be transported together with other hazardous waste, to prevent the possible spread of infectious agents. Trolleys should be coloured in the appropriate colour code for infectious waste (yellow) and should be labelled with an “Infectious waste” sign. • Other hazardous waste, such as chemical and pharmaceutical wastes, should be transported separately in boxes to central storage sites. The use of waste chutes in health-care facilities is not recommended, because they can increase the risk of transmitting airborne infections. trolleys Health-care waste can be bulky and heavy and should be transported using wheeled trolleys or carts that are not used for any other purpose. To avoid injuries and infection transmission, trolleys and carts should: • be easy to load and unload • have no sharp edges that could damage waste bags or containers during loading and unloading • be easy to clean and, if enclosed, fitted with a drainage hole and plug • be labelled and dedicated to a particular waste type • be easy to push and pull • not be too high (to avoid restricting the view of staff transporting waste) • be secured with a lock (for hazardous waste) • be appropriately sized according to the volumes of waste generated at a health-care facility. Waste, especially hazardous waste, should never be transported by hand due to the risk of accident or injury from infectious material or incorrectly disposed sharps that may protrude from a container. trolleys should be available in case of breakdowns and maintenance. The vehicles should be cleaned and disinfected daily. All waste bag seals should be in place and intact at the end of transportation. Routing Separate hazardous and non-hazardous routes should be planned and used. In general, a waste route should follow the principle “from clean to dirty”. Collection should start from the most hygienically sensitive medical areas (e.g. intensive care, dialysis, theatres) and follow a fixed route around other medical areas and interim storage locations. The frequency of collection should be refined through experience to ensure that there are no overflowing waste containers at any time. Biologically active waste (e.g. infectious waste) must be collected at least daily. A routing plan would be influenced by: