Standard precautions: Waste management

According to WHO, about 85% of the total amount of waste generated by health care activities is general, non-hazardous waste. The remaining 15% is considered hazardous material that could be infectious, toxic or radioactive. Hazardous waste that is not managed properly presents a risk to hospital patients, health care personnel and the general public.

In this course, you will learn about the different categories of waste and the process for waste management. Health care waste includes all waste generated by health, research and laboratory facilities in the course of providing health care services. Health care waste in a facility should be managed from point of generation to final disposal and removal.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• identify the categories and sources of waste at a health care facility;
• describe the best practices for minimizing, segregating, collecting, transporting and storing health care waste; and
• identify the recommended treatment and final disposal methods for health care waste.