Biohazardous waste is a subset of medical waste requiring extra precautions from hospitals and other healthcare facilities. As the name implies, biohazard waste may include hazardous bacteria or other biological agents if released into the environment. Microorganisms that can lead to illness or death in humans fall under this category, and they may take the form of bacteria, parasites, molds, viruses, and more.
Most Common Forms of Biohazard Waste
Waste needs to be segregated, categorized, disinfected, and disposed of in a way that is appropriate for that form to reduce the chance of occupational exposure and the risks associated with ecological discharge. Biohazardous waste can be grouped into five classifications according to its chemical makeup, as follows:
Autoclaving Deadly Waste
Some forms of biohazardous waste can be sanitized by autoclaving. Among the examples of deadly waste that may be autoclaved are:
- Laboratory waste: This consists of contaminated glass wares, plastic pipettes, culture dishes, and other non-reusable materials that have come in contact with contagious agents.
- Medical waste: Some medical waste, like contaminated surgical instruments and clothing, can be autoclaved to make sure safe disposal.
- Animal waste: Animal carcasses, bed linens, and other waste items from animal research facilities can be autoclaved to eliminate potentially harmful microorganisms.
Autoclaving is a reliable technique for sterilizing hazardous waste, including laboratory, medical, and animal carcass waste. Considering they have been sterilized in an autoclave, it is safe to dispose of them.
Pathological Biohazardous Waste
Extracted organs, tissues, and other body parts from sick humans or animals are pathological waste. Pathological waste, like liquid waste, should be double-bagged and stored in secondary containers to prevent leaks. Standard disposal methods include burning or chemical handling; autoclaving is not used. If you need assistance clearing up a biohazard, there are numerous firms you can call.
Liquid Biohazardous Waste
Blood and other bodily fluids that may have infectious microorganisms make up the bulk of the liquid biohazardous waste. Liquid biohazard waste needs to be contained in containers that are both impermeable and stable in case of a spill or other accident. On the other hand, a secondary container, like a tray or a bucket, can secure the primary liquid containers.
Chemical treatment with peroxide or autoclaving on the liquid cycle effectively removes most types of liquid waste. If the fluids comprise both biological and chemical waste, it is highly recommended that you seek assistance on correct disposal from medical or professional biohazard cleanup services.
Solid Biohazardous Waste
Items that have come into touch with human or animal sampling materials, such as tissues or body fluids but are not sharp, are considered solid biohazardous trash. Petri dishes, pipettes, towels, linens, and any other dish or container are good examples. Consequently, a container with a cover, an autoclave bag, and a biohazard label must be put to use to collect this trash.
Autoclaving solid biohazard waste on-site can make it safe for disposal in a traditional medical waste landfill. However, several biohazard services will be required if they have yet to be decontaminated before being safely thrown away. To learn more about where and how solid hazardous waste can be properly disposed of, see this link.
Sharp Biohazardous Waste
Anything used in the health care field to pierce the skin and come into contact with potentially infectious biological material is considered sharp biohazardous waste. Needles, scalpels, microscope slides, saw blades, shards of glass from damaged vials, and a lot more all fall under the “sharps.”
Sharps waste is collected in marked containers. Regardless of biohazard condition, all sharps must be removed in such containers, albeit biohazardous sharps will be marked as such. Furthermore, a medical waste service will collect used needles and other potentially harmful sharps.
While not sharp enough to pierce flesh, plastic serological pipettes can go through plastic bags. Therefore they should be handled as sharps or segregated from the rest of the solid biohazardous waste.
In a Nutshell
To avoid being contaminated with biohazards, it is vital to exercise good personal hygiene and always keep your workplace clean, especially in medical centers. Hiring a professional biohazard cleaning service with the training, equipment, and knowledge to clean, sanitize, and get rid of infected objects and surfaces is your best and perhaps most cost-effective choice.
