Resumo

GARCIA, Johanna; HERNANDEZ, Fabiola; RODRIGUEZ, Glacelidys  e  MAGO, Neil. Evaluation of the solid waste management program of the Dr. Julio Criollo Rivas Hospital. Salud de los Trabajadores [online]. 2010, vol.18, n.1, pp.47-56. ISSN 1315-0138.

Hospital solid waste (HSW) contains pathogenic or infecteious agents, representing a potential hazard for healthcare workers, patients and the general public. The present study examined current waste management policies and practices at the “Dr. Julio Criollo Rivas” Hospital, Bolívar City, Bolívar state, during the last semester of 2007, using a descriptive and prospective design that included surveys of nursing and housekeeping personnel, random visits during different work shifts, systematic tabulation, photographic recording and use of checklists to determine the hospital’s efficiency level regarding handling of wastes. Five types of hospital waste were identified (A, B, C, D and E, according to the current legal norm, Decree 2.218 “Rules for classification and handling of waste handling from health establishments”), butonly 29,17% of these rules were being complied with. However, 49,06% and 45,83% of nursing and housekeeping personnel, respectively, exhibited an “acceptable” level of knowledge regarding HSW handling. Nevertheless, the actual practices with HSW handling were rated as “deficient”. Consequently, there is a need to propose and implement HSW policies and procedures that are feasible from health, economic and operational standpoints, so that there is compliance with the law, and environmental and occupational risks are reduced.

Palavras-chave : Medical Waste; Medical Waste Disposal; Occupational Risks.