Resumen

RODRIGUEZ, Glacelidys; MAGO, Neil  y  MORA ARELLANO, Víctor. Diagnosis of the medical waste management in the Hospital Ruiz y Páez, Bolívar state, Venezuela. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2006, vol.46, n.2, pp.169-180. ISSN 1690-4648.

Inadequate handling of solid waste coming from hospital facilities is considered as one of the principal occupational risk factors because of the infectious nature of some components and the presence of sharps waste. For this reason, the present analytic and descriptive investigation has as its goal the diagnosis of current waste management in the Ruiz y Páez Hospital, Bolívar state, Venezuela. Through random inspections carried at the different hospital service areas referred to, the implementation of a survey of cleaners and assistance personal was carried and photos taken. It was demonstrated that 79.19% of the Decree 2,218 “Rules for classification and waste handling coming from health establishments” was not complied with and that 100% of the questioned personal had not received training for the management of dangerous and infectious waste. In 2004-2005 31 occupational accidents with sharps objects were reported. From the information obtained, it is necessary to institute a new system of collection and final disposal of the medical waste generated. For the establishment and achievement of this system, all the hospital community must be involved and trained.

Palabras clave : Medical waste; medical waste disposal; occupational risk.