Helmets, with or without visorsÑdepending on the operation.
¥ Face masksÑdepending on operation.
¥ Eye protectors (safety goggles)Ñdepending on operation.
¥ Overalls (coveralls)Ñobligatory.
¥ Industrial apronsÑobligatory.
¥ Leg protectors and/or industrial bootsÑobligatory.
¥ Disposable gloves (medical staff) or heavy-duty gloves (waste workers)
Ñobligatory.
Industrial boots and heavy-duty gloves are particularly important for
waste workers. The thick soles of the boots offer protection in the storage
area, as a precaution from spilled sharps, and where ßoors are slippery.
If segregation is inadequate, needles or other sharp items may have
been placed in plastic bags; such items may also pierce thin-walled or
weak plastic containers. If it is likely that health-care waste bags will
come into contact with workersÕ legs during handling, leg protectors may
also need to be worn. An example of the protective clothing recommended
in Thailand is shown in Fig. 12.1.
Operators of manually loaded incinerators should wear protective face
visors and helmets. During ash and slag removal and other operations
that create dust, dust masks should be provided for operators.
12.2.2 Personal hygiene
Basic personal hygiene is important for reducing the risks from handling
health-care waste, and convenient washing facilities (with warm water
and soap) should be available for personnel involved in the task. This is
of particular importance at storage and incineration facilities.
12.2.3 Immunization
Viral hepatitis B infections have been reported among health-care personnel
and waste handlers, and immunization against the disease is
therefore recommended. Tetanus immunization is also recommended for
all personnel handling waste.
12.2.4 Management practices
Many of the management practices recommended in Chapters 6 and 7
contribute to a reduction in risk for personnel who handle health-care
waste; these are summarized as follows:
¥ Waste segregation: careful separation of different types of waste into
different and distinct containers or bags deÞnes the risk linked to each
waste package.
¥ Appropriate packaging: prevents spillage of waste and protects workers
from contact with waste.
¥ Waste identiÞcation (through distinct packaging and labelling): allows
for easy recognition of the class of waste and of its source.
¥ Appropriate waste storage: limits the access to authorized individuals
only, protects against infestation by insects and rodents, and prevents
contamination of surrounding areas.
¥ Appropriate transportation: reduces risks of workers being exposed to
waste.
12.2.5 Special precautions for clearing up spillages of potentially
hazardous substances
For clearing up spillages of body ßuids or other potentially hazardous
substances, particularly if there is any risk of splashing, eye protectors
and masks should be worn, in addition to gloves and overalls.
Respirators (gas masks) are also needed if an activity is particularly
dangerous, for example if it involves toxic dusts, the clearance of incinerator
residues, or the cleaning of contaminated equipment.
Residues should be recovered as completely as possible using hand tools
(e.g. a shovel), and then packed safely. It is especially important to
recover spilled droplets of metallic mercury. If a leakage or spillage
involves infectious material, the ßoor should be cleaned and disinfected
after most of the waste has been recovered.
12.2.6 Response to injury and exposure
A programme of response should be established that prescribes the actions
to be taken in the event of injury or exposure to a hazardous
substance. All staff who handle health-care waste should be trained to
deal with injuries and exposures. The programme should include the
following elements: