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3 Types of Clinical Waste

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 According to Sharpsmart, clinical waste is a type of waste that comes from healthcare service providers and has the potential to carry viruses and diseases. This includes but is not limited to items contaminated with bodily fluids, used syringes and bandages, and other medical tools that can only be used one time.For properly disposing of such items, it is important that we learn to segregate these medical wastes to avoid the risks of improper handling disposal. In this article, we will learn the three types of clinical wastes that are commonly produced.Offensive WasteThese are types of waste that are not harmful or infectious, but they could be offensive to anyone who gets in contact with it. These include sanitary hygiene waste, personal protective equipment, and some dental or medical waste.

Infectious Waste

Waste is defined to be hazardous and may cause harm or disease to anyone who gets in contact with it if they are not handled with protective measures. Although it is not necessarily always the case, they include infected bodily fluids, human or animal tissues, and some disposable medical tools such as needles and syringes.Hazardous WasteHazardous waste is a type of waste that becomes dangerous when stored and handled improperly. They are not capable of transferring viruses or diseases, but they can potentially harm those who get in contact with it. This type of waste includes expired medicines, sharp medical tools, and chemicals that are harmful.

Importance of Proper Medical Waste Segregation

Based on the key facts of the World Health Organization, improper medical waste disposal can cause long-term problems in health and the environment. It produces air and land pollution which are harmful to other aspects of our society.

The WHO continues to formulate “safe and environmentally sound management of health care wastes” to prevent these consequences and sustain it for future generations.