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Biohazardous Waste
Biohazardous Waste
By
Tammy Chamness
Tarleton State University
Safety and Regulatory Compliance
Biohazardous Waste
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In today’s day and age, with the increase in the human population and their desire to have
animals in their lives, the amount of biohazardous material that can affect our environment has
exploded exponentially. From everyday medications that may be kept in our cabinets for
ourselves or for our pets, to the needles that were used to draw your blood or that of your four
legged friend. The need for proper disposal of any biohazardous waste is a most, not only to
prevent the transmission of zoonotic diseases to humans but to help prevent the spread of
contagious diseases amongst other species or into the environment itself.
In veterinary practice, as with human medical care, the sharps container is probably the
most visible means of biohazardous waste disposal. Everything from a single needle, a syringe
with the needle still attached, to catheters or broken microscope slides can be disposed of in the
sharps container. It is probably also the area with the most incident of injury. In order to avoid
any sort of stick injury and the chance of being exposed to a blood borne pathogen, one most
take care of the removal of needles, how they pick up scalpel blades, and always to wear gloves
when disposing of broken, contaminated glass or heavy, hard plastics.
Once biohazardous waste is ready to be picked up to be disposed of, it must be in
properly marked containers and sealed the exact way as instructed by your biohazardous waste
transport and Disposal Company. This is not only to ensure the safety of the people being
exposed to your waste after it leaves your facility but it minimize the chance of accidental spills
into the environment.
In conclusion, biohazardous waste does not only affect you when you are directly in
contact with it, it can have an effect on other species in the environment or in your clinic if
proper handling and disposal of this waste is not practiced. Some blood borne pathogens can be
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so contagious that just a scratch or minor stick from a used needle can cause serious illness. So
do not only think about your own personal safety when dealing with any hazardous material but
think about those that can come in contact with it, like co-workers that come behind you, in your
facility and the patients that may be exposed to any waste that has not been disposed of properly,
to the people who have to handle your waste once it leaves your facility for final disposal. Your
safety and the safety of those you may never know, should always be on your mind.
Biohazardous waste does not need to be hazardous, if disposed of and handles properly.
Biohazardous Waste
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharps_waste
Management of Biomedical Waste in Florida [1] video
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