The significance of bio-hazardous waste removal Broward can hardly be underestimated, as these infectious waste materials are capable of causing serious problems to both public health and the environment.
What is Biohazardous Waste?
This term (biohazardous waste) refers to any biological materials, substances and agents that are present, or a product of health care or any other industry and that may be a health hazard for the employees of that facility, or for the community around it.
Another definition, puts biohazardous waste as any kind of waste that holds infectious materials, such as blood.
There are six different categories of biohazardous waste:
1. Human bodily fluids
2. Pathological wastes
3. Human blood and blood products
4. Microbiological waste
5. Sharps waste and
6. Animal waste
Among these six, sharps waste often deserves the most attention, as they are able to inflict a physical injury to medical personnel while being handled, as well as infect them or their patients.
Bio-Hazardous Waste Removal Responsibilities
The greatest responsibility, when it comes to bio-hazardous waste removal is on those who generated it the most, that is health care providers. Hospitals, clinics, nursery homes and the like have to adequately treat and discard these wastes. They can either use their own resources and facilities for this, or they can hire a professional medical waste management company.
Medical Waste Management in the Laboratory
Because the microbiological, or laboratory waste often contains highly concentrated infectious agents, it poses a really great threat and it has to be treated and disposed of with the utmost care. Stocks and cultures, should of course, never be mixed with the normal waste, as mixing the two can lead to spreading pathogens and nullifying any positive effects of medical waste disposal.
Lab personnel needs to be aware that certain items they use every day is not biohazardous waste. This includes any item or material that did not come in direct contact with the infected blood.
It is vital for a lab to dispose and disinfect its infectious waste proper. For instance, liquids such as blood have to be first sterilized and then flushed in the sewer. However, this approach is suitable only for smaller amounts of liquids. With more blood, for instance, there is a possibility of clogging the pipes. So, if the health care facility or lab has a large quantity of biohazardous liquids it has to get rid of, they should contact a professional medical waste management service.
How Great is the Need for Bio-Hazardous Waste Removal Companies?
Bio-hazardous waste removal is a process that starts with identifying infectious or biohazardous waste. It continues with the classification of that same waste into one of 6 categories (blood, body fluids, pathological, microbiological, sharps or animal). Next, the waste is being packaged, labeled and stored. Finally, comes the disposal. Everything that precedes it doesn’t amount to anything if this is done poorly. To minimize the risks, it is best to leave disposal to licensed bio-hazardous waste removal Broward companies.
