Waste Disposal
Biomedical waste is contaminated, infectious waste that requires careful disposal, and includes:
| WASTE CATEGORY | COLOUR CODE | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|---|
| ANATOMICAL WASTE | Red | Red Tissues, organs, body parts |
| MICROBIOLOGIC WASTE | Yellow | Diagnostic specimens, cultures, vaccines |
| FLUID WASTE | Yellow | Drainage collection units and suction container contents, blood, blood products, bloody body fluids |
| GENERAL WASTE | Green, Black or Clear | Dressings, sponges, PPE, empty IV bags and tubing, catheters, empty specimen containers, Isolation waste from Contact, Droplet and Airborne Precautions rooms |
References
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PIDAC. (2013). Annex B: Best practices for prevention of transmission of acute respiratory infection in all health care settings. Retrieved from Public Health Ontario website: www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/PIDAC-IPC_Annex_B_Prevention_Transmission_ARI_2013.pdf
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Public Health Ontario. (n.d.a). Chain of transmission and risk assessment: Glossary of terms. Retrieved from Public Health Ontario website: www.publichealthontario.ca/en/LearningAndDevelopment/OnlineLearning/InfectiousDiseases/IPACCore/Documents/CORE_Trainers_COT_and_RA_Module_Glossary_April _2014.pdf
Public Health Ontario. (n.d.b). Risk Algorithm to Guide PPE Use. Retrieved from Public Health Ontario website: www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/IPAC_Clinical_Office_Practice_Risk_Algorithm_PPE_2013.pdf
World Health Organization. (2015). Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Retrieved from World Health Organization website: www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/mers-cov/en/