Recently, contagious waste's improper disposal problem is being raised by a tip of the society. The hospital solid waste comprises the life wastes, industrial discharges and the contagious wastes from such medical facilities as hospitals, clinics or n...
Recently, contagious waste's improper disposal problem is being raised by a tip of the society. The hospital solid waste comprises the life wastes, industrial discharges and the contagious wastes from such medical facilities as hospitals, clinics or nursing institutions. It can be divided into two kinds, one of which shall be those being produced by direct medical activities, and the other is those being produced by the life of the patients and their carers in hospitals.
Most of the hospital solid waste is being entrusted with designated disposal services to be burned at their burning facilities, which is being pointed out to be the fundamental restriction to proper and appropriate disposal of the hospital solid wastes. Due to lack of concern on disposal of hospital solid wastes, only such entry level studies have been made as the fact finding surveys. The lack of systematic research seems to be due to lack of hospitals' understanding and also to the poor support from administrative authorities. Now, the situation requires for the health of the nation more honest and constructive study and taking urgent and proper measures against the problem.
Most of the medical institutions dispose of the contagious solid wastes by burning them at their own incineration or by entrusting them to the relevant disposal services, but the actual disposal work is being made in an expedient and perfunctory way. Strict control over custody, collection and transportation of the contagious solid wastes is required, since the possibility of contamination therefrom is dangerous to the solid waste controllers, disposal service manpower and general public as well.
In the research, for theoretical study on the whole contagious solid waste, interviews with medical institutions were made in Gyungjoo and Pohang area, in four categories of the general hospitals, university hospitals, private hospitals and others. The statistical analysis of the data from the interviews shows that the propriety control plan of the contagious solid wastes shall be as follows:
As to the quantity of the contagious solid wastes, the synthetic resin and the absorbent cotton was the largest quantity among the other solid wastes than the organic material. Per season, pathologic solid waste was the biggest volume in spring and winter, while the injury related solid waste was the biggest in spring and autumn. Among the organic materials, the dead body of the test animal was the biggest in spring and winter. The solid waste synthetic resin was the larger quantity with the specialized nursing institutions.
Per day of the week, the organic material contagious solid waste was large on Tuesday from general hospitals, and on Monday from university hospitals. As to the organic contagious wastes, the dead body of the test animals was in large quantity on Wednesday, and the placenta was on Tuesday.
As to the question of which department is taking charge of the solid waste disposal work, general affairs section took high percentage in general, and per each type of the medical institutions, the general affairs section took high percentage with the specialized medical institutions, and an unidentified section with the normal ones. As to qualification of the persons in charge, 'qualified' took higher percentage than 'not qualified' in general, and per each type of the medical institutions, 'not qualified' was the higher percentage for both of the specialized and not specialized ones.
As to whether the solid wastes separation collection is being made, 'yes' was in much higher percentage than 'no', which was applicable for both of the specialized and the normal medical institutions. Among the contagious solid wastes, the designated waste was bigger quantity than the industrial waste and others, and the absorbent cotton was bigger than the waste synthetic resin. With the specialized medical institutions, the solid waste synthetic resin was bigger quantity than the absorbent cotton.
As to the number of education times on solid waste control work, 'twice an year' took highest percentage in general, and per each type of medical institutions, twice an year was the higher percentage for the specialized ones, and 'not any' for the normal. As to the ways of solid waste disposal, entrusting them took highest percentage than the self-disposal and others.
Self-disposal of the waste took lower percentage than entrusting them, and many interviewee answered that disposal of the solid waste was an economic burden to them. Responsibility awareness about the contagious solid waste was found not sufficient.
Improvement plan at the source of contagious solid waste is that medical institutions should designate solid waste control managers specifying their undertakings, and prepare, furnish, educate and advertise the solid waste control manuals. Regulations should be strictly observed on the solid wastes movement between the internal facilities, and each department should know well about the solid waste identification method to minimize the expansion of infection. Systematically, medical institutions shall employ specialized personnel and specifically stipulate their performance guidelines.