WHO On-Site Medical Waste Collection, Transport and Storage Guidelines
The World Health Organization (WHO) among other things related to health care, also offers guidelines for medical waste collection, transportation and storage within the facility generating such waste.
WHO Guidelines for Medical Waste Collection
According to WHO, all employees in a hospital or other facility offering health care services are required to make sure all bags used for medical waste collection are properly sealed or closed. The bags, WHO continue in its guidelines, should never be completely full, but only about three-quarters (3/4). This is because, otherwise, it would be impossible to seal or close a full bag and some of its infectious and hazardous content could spill out of the bag.
When closing lighter bags, you can tie their neck, but in case of heavier bags, you should use a self-locking sealing tag. Never close the bag containing medical waste with a stapler.
For sharps, it is necessary to use hard-plastic, leak-proof containers. These should be visibly labeled and placed in another bag before being sent either to autoclaving in the same facility or to off-site disposal.
WHO also recommends that medical waste is collected as frequently as required (for instance, daily) and afterward sent to a temporary storage site before being moved for treatment and ultimately to disposal. However, bags and other containers should not be removed if it is not clear from their label what they contain, where do they come from and when was the medical waste produced.
Finally, after sending bags or containers with medical waste to disposal, make sure to replace them with new and empty ones and repeat the same process with these as well.
WHO Medical Waste Storage Guidelines
When it comes to storing medical waste, WHO recommends that the location designated for this purpose be inside the facility that produces medical waste. All collected bio waste should be stored in a separate area there, the size of which would correspond with the quantity of the infectious waste produced and how often it is collected.
Typically, storage times for medical waste should not exceed 24 hours in hot summer days, 48 hours during spring and autumn months and 72 hours in winter months of the year. The only exception is when the storage room is refrigerated.
WHO Medical Waste Transport Guidelines
Special transport vehicles must be designated for medical waste. These vehicles should not be used for any other purpose like transporting patients or medical equipment.
Within hospital, medical waste containers should be transported in trolleys or carts that:
- Are easy to load/unload
- Don’t contain any sharp edges that could damage the containers
- Are easy to clean
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