Waste container colour codes explained.
Medical waste container colors.
In this month s blog series we ll be looking closely at the color coding system used for medical waste handling and what each container should include.
Below is a summarised table containing the storage container types and colour typical colour classification codes for these type of medical waste.
Medical waste is put in plastic bags metal containers and hard plastic barrels and bins.
2 health care facility medical wastes targeted for handling and disposal precautions include microbiology laboratory waste.
Sharps container carts and trolleys make it easier to dispose of medical waste.
They are prelabeled with biohazard symbols and the word biohazard.
This is known as medical waste segregation and uses color coded collection containers.
Color coding also provides a visual indication of the potential risk posed by the waste while the containers are in the facility of waste origin and after they have been transported elsewhere.
Posted on june 12th 2018.
The four main categories often break off into smaller categories which also have their own color segregation systems for storage and disposal.
It is an essential part of ensuring that healthcare activities don t pose a risk of infection to carers and anyone else coming into contact with the waste containers.
A route for the collection of waste should be established in the waste management plan.
Waste segregation at the point of generation enables the safe management of healthcare wastes.
The staff must wear protective clothing at all times when handling wastes like face masks industrial aprons leg protectors industrial boots and disposable gloves.
The most practical approach to medical waste management is to identify wastes that represent a sufficient potential risk of causing infection during handling and disposal and for which some precautions likely are prudent.
The waste is collected from specified containers called pickup containers the pickup containers are supplied by the lbnl medical biohazardous waste subcontractor and are usually gray in color except for red pathology containers which are discussed later.
Medical facilities rely on licensed medical waste companies to color code their disposal bins properly.
Pharmaceutical waste containers our pharmaceutical waste disposal containers easily identify non rcra hazardous pharmaceutical waste.
