Waste management in hospitals. Current situation in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia

• Published in: Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz, 2009-07, Vol.52 (7), p.753
• Main Authors: Popp, W, Hansen, D, Hilgenhöner, M, Grandek, M, Heinemann, A, Blättler, T
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Communicable Disease Control - standards; Disinfection - standards; Germany; Guidelines as Topic; Hospital Administration - standards; Humans; Medical Waste Disposal - standards; Refuse Disposal - standards; Risk Assessment; Safety Management - standards; Waste Management - standards
• ISSN: 1437-1588
• DOI: 10.1007/s00103-009-0877-6

In 20 hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia in-plant handling wastes and the delivery of the waste to the disposer were examined. Deficits were seen regarding risk assessment and operating instructions, support by company doctors, personal protection equipment, and break areas for the waste collecting personnel. Also the qualification of the waste management officer and his/her time contingent, correct declaration of the wastes, the training of the waste collecting personnel, the cleaning of multi-use containers and transportation vehicles, storage of the wastes at the collecting points, and the use of sharp collecting boxes were to be partly criticized. Consequences and recommendations are given, concerning the company's obligations (e.g., provide risk assessment, operating instructions), waste management officer (e.g., qualification, enough time contingent, regular inspections), waste collecting personnel (e.g., training courses), industrial safety (e.g., protection equipment, break area wash places), company doctors, transportation vehicles in the house (e.g., regular cleaning), one-way collectors (e.g., labelling at the site of the collection), multi-use collectors (e.g., cleaning), and compressing containers (e.g., larger maintenance openings).