Hospital Waste Management

Discuss about the Health Centre Incinerator and Structure.

In today’s world, there is a large normality in throwing away waste. It has become a throwaway culture. This leads to a development of large masses of solid wastes. Techniques concerning the environmental measurements have produced a clear indication the resource demand in this earth would not suffice and had to be addressed immediately. Some of the noted questions that were to be answered included; what balance could be seen between economic, environmental, regulatory and social factors? When would a system be designed for dealing with the solid waste and its implementation? What would be the best fraction in the composting, recycling, recovery and reduction option schemes? How much would the community participate in ensuring the success of schemes and designs for managing wastes? What major criteria have to be used in out-sourcing biowastes? What main factors would be the inhibitors or encouragement in plans that may manage the wastes? These questions need answering before the start of any management techniques in solid wastes. The development of any design that would manage waste has to be seen to be environmentally sustainable, socially acceptable and economically viable (Paul, P.E., & R.A., 2018).

This proposal comes in to propose the development of one structure that has the ability to minimize risks of contamination to patients, the general public as well as health workers in the premises of health facilities. There have been recent studies that show an average of 33% infection of Hepatitis B virus due to the direct as well as indirect infection through contact with infectious health facility wastes. Taking note that latest reports have shown convincing links between the transmission and unsafe infections of diseases. The development of special structures would lead to efficient operations and better hygiene in health facilities as well as lower the rate of pollution of the environment caused by destruction practices and separation of waste that is poor.

Management of Hospital Wastes

Wastes coming from health centres have been known to consist of various categories of materials. After noting the existing relative proportionality in the medical waste components being produced by these hospitals, it was noted that these wastes depended on the type of healthcare facility., waste, management practices that included disposal, segregation and handling, and lastly, waste regulation as a whole. Some of the main components that could be found in health centre wastes include; plastics that are single-use and disposed, tissues, pathological wastes and absorbent cotton. Generating the wastes of hospitals would only differ if countries are considered. However, there exist differences in wastes produce in the same country due to differences in the establishment producing the wastes. Also, differences would occur in the out-patient basis treatment proportion and used re-usable item proportions. Studies published in (PaulN, 2018) have shown that the production of wastes from hospitals is seen to be directly proportional to the level of income that has similarity to the generated wastes. The responsibility was explained to lie on the healthcare institution and hospitals that had to ensure that there was no chance for an adverse environmental and health consequences due to the generated waste treatment, handling and disposal activities.

Evolution of Models for Solid Waste Management

In the decades that have passed, there have been notable efforts in research that direct towards the models that are economic-based with the aim of managing solid wastes. (Yen-Hsiung, 2018) has pointed out that the models that were developed at first were models that optimized and had distinct features of problems.

However, taking note of the information in (Robert, 2013)early models suffered numerous disadvantages that included having one period of time, lacking an account of the recyclables, possessing one option in the types r they had one source of generation. A distinct model was present in (Paul, P.E., & R.A., 2018) that based its operation on minimizing the total cost. The model took into account the material and energy requirements that took place through the operation of these model in a constrained optimized non-linear problem. However, this model missed considering the technical, environmental and normative aspects.

(Paul C. , 2013) produced a presentation on a model that had some similarity to the model in (Mohd, 2018) but improved on the framework’s general modelling. Both models took note of the decision on the representation of the varying wastes from health s=centres. However, this approach missed possessing an economical consideration thereby did not completely satisfy to connect and solve the problems that cropped from disposal and management of solid health wastes.

The incinerator to be designed would occupy n area of 2.6 by 3 m. additionally, the proposed design layout has the feature of possessing safety boxes as well as the disposal of other wastes for storage in allocated area in the ground level near the incinerator before their loading for incineration. This would be enacted via the loading door. The loading door is positioned above the incinerator. Supplementary and pre-heating fuel would be stored at ground level close to the incinerator. The fuel will be located on the other side of the incinerator. The purpose of storing this fuel would be for easy reach in times of pre-heating and lighting of the incinerator once it is loaded through the ash door which is designed to be situated at the incinerator’s front section. Accessing this incinerator should be easy. The ease of access would play a big role in times of safety, cleaning and maintenance. Ash coming from the incinerator will be moved using suitable rake immediately into the ash pit that is located just in front of the ash door. Moving the ash in this manner would not require collection before reaching the pit. The incinerator is built to have a convenient store location. Records, protective clothing and tools will be stored in this store. Shelter for the incinerator should be having a door that is lockable and will be located in a fenced area. This fencing and security will be able to protect the whole health centre from the emitted elements thereby making the incinerator quite secure. Also, the incinerator will be developed to have a needle disposal pit. This pit will be easily accessed from outside the secured area. To add to the design described above, there is an addition of safety boxes (Paul, P.E., & R.A., 2018).

Proposed Incinerator Design

A total of 6 Kg /hr of waste would be burned in this incinerator. When the incinerator is possibly used for an average of 2 hours in a day to total 5 days in one week, the incinerator destroys 280 safety boxes in one month alone. The needle and ash pit would be having a volume of 3.25 m³. Designing such a capacity makes it possible for storing the generated needle and ash in a period of 10 years. The pit would therefore not be emptied necessarily if this design is used to its maximum. However, the pit could be emptied by the removal of slabs locate on the level of the ground for the provision of covering it may opt to do so. The capacity of the waste store will be capable of storing 200 safety boxes if well-arranged if placed randomly, space would hold 130 boxes, this adds to the soft wastes from the hospitals. Such numbers depict supplies that amount to one week. This is calculated with an assumption that there is a 12-box in a day to be burned over 2 hours. Waste handling personnel can dispose of plastic and safety boxes using the drop-box through a secure one without unlocking the main entrance of the shelter. Wood, combustible organic waste and coconut fuel store would be adequate for a week with the assumption of daily sessions of burning.

The proposed incinerator has its design on the specifications, proper maintenance and operation that lead to best practices in its use. This design can withstand disposal of non-infectious and infectious wastes in a quick, simple and in a reduced environmental consequence (Paul C. , 2013). Several elements make up this incinerator for the purpose of enabling another operator to safely dispose and process the infectious waste. The variety of components in this design are;

1. The incineration slot.

This section has the function of burning and reducing wastes. The average weight that can be held is 6Kg in an hour.

1. A needle/ ash pit.

In this section, glass, ash, needles and metallic parts are to be disposed of in it after incineration. Needle cutters produce needles which could be disposed of in the pit. The needle/ash pit has enough space that can store incinerated residues from an average of 10 years without the necessity of being emptied. A session of incineration has an average weight of 0.5 Kg. there is a store pit of an average 3.25 m³ that stores ash that has been burnt from an approximate 300 safety boxes in one month in a period of 12 years.

Important Components of the Incinerator

Developing a shelter offers protection to the incinerator, the incinerated waste as well as the operator from the rain. Protection also extends to the wood, fuel and agro-residue that pre-heat the incinerator. Tools used during incineration, records and the protective clothing are also protected. Additionally, the shelter would also provide support to the 4-metre high chimney.

1. Waste store.

It securely accumulates the waste that will be incinerated. The total safety box number that this store can hold is about 200 when neatly stacked.

1. Storage box.

Keeps protective clothing, tools and records.

1. Lockable door enclosure.

Having a lockable door prevents access from unauthorized personnel. Also, it prevents access by children as well as scavenging birds and animals.

1. A Hole for Safety box deposit.

Allows the health worker to safely drop the disposed of safety boxes into the area in protection in case the incinerator is not ready for use.

1. A hole for depositing needles.

Needles can be emptied safely into this hole that ends in a needle/ash pit in case the incinerator is not ready for use.

Important components of this incinerator are put in groups for the purpose of disposing of wastes n primary health facilities integrating them into one unit for the sole purpose of waste disposal. Advantages that come from this design is as follows (Paul, P.E., & R.A., 2018);

One locked enclosure is able to protect stored fuel, waste, ash, incinerator needle and ash pit.

Developing one shelter that incinerates, stores fuel, waste, tools, records and disposal of ash reduces the cost if compared to developing separate locations for these functions.

Convenience in usage.

Records, fuel, tools, waste, ash and clothes disposal are disposed of in one location that is protected.

Labour

Waste that is collected can be safely disposed of in the storage area without necessary involvement of operators since the holes leading into the pits can be accessed easily.

Operator motivation.

The sense of owning the site can be enjoyed by the operator since the keeping of the access keys is the responsibility. This encourages proper practices of operation.

Task	Sub-task	Effort level (days)
Preparation	Materials are procured, imported or manufactured. Materials are transported to the site, checked and carefully stored.	2
Incinerator foundation and needle/ash pit	Excavation	21
Setting up footings and developing to the level of the floor.
RCC removable slab and PCC slab development
Curing
Quality and inspection control
Incinerator	PCC slab grouted to the metallic frame	10
Quality and inspection control
Lower section brickwork refractory
Intermediary and bridge refractory brickwork
Upper brickwork’s refractory having ash, spigot assembly and loading door.
Curing
Incinerator enclosure and roof structure	Removable RCC slabs, masonry walls and safety and needle box aperture.	12
Curing
Roof Trusses
Roof cladding
Cap, chimney and draft control
Temperature indicator
Quality and inspection control
Finishing	Work zone for the operator	13
Internal/external securing walls
Door, mesh fence and storage fittings
Quality and inspection control

All phases need quality control taking note of the following (Mohd, 2018);

1. Preparation and planning.

The services and material modes of contracting are validated and decided with specification son the inputs determining the adoption of local or kit procurement methods.

1. Materials reception.

The supplied materials are verified with the material and technical specifications.

1. Demonstration model evaluation.

Entrepreneurs developed demonstration models have to be evaluated.

1. Construction phase.

Each step is verified with the definition of timeline construction.

1. Supervisor and operator training with certification.

Best practice training should be ensured for every operator.

1. Service and maintenance.

Periodic visits should be done to monitor the post-installation servicing and maintenance with proper reporting.

Training

Specifications of tender should be able to provide training as follows;

1. New operator’s introductory training.
2. An interval of one-year re-training of operators.
3. Following the incineration, an operation to ensure best practice implementation.

Additionally, the manual for the operation of the incinerator should be available for every operator (Yen-Hsiung, 2018).

Maintenance

Maintenance and training have to be having sustainability and quality. Options in maintenance have to be carefully considered in the invitation of tenders. Additionally, local maintenance success stories have to be considered with the proven practice maintenance (Robert, 2013).

Timeline and Resources

Conclusion

Health centre wastes have been known to consist of various categories of materials. After noting the existing relative proportionality in the medical waste components being produced by these hospitals, it was noted that these wastes depended on the type of healthcare facility., waste, management practices that included disposal, segregation and handling, and lastly, waste regulation as a whole. Some of the main components that could be found in health centre wastes include; plastics that are single-use and disposed, tissues, pathological wastes and absorbent cotton. Hence this proposal comes up with an incineration design that takes into account all these factors to develop on shelter incineration system for health centres.

References

Mohd, F. (2018). Proceedings of Mechanical Engineering Research Day 2018. Darwin: Centre for Advanced Research on Energy.

Paul, C. (2013). Waste Incineration Handbook. Sydney: Elsevier Science.

Paul, G., P.E., & R.A. (2018). An Introduction to Solid Waste Incineration. Perth: Guyer Partners.

PaulN, C. (2018). Air Pollution Control and Design for Industry. Darwin: CRC Press.

Robert, B. (2013). Incineration of Municipal Waste: Specialized Seminars on Incinerator Emissions of Heavy Metals and Particulates, Copenhagen, 18–19 September 1985 and Emission of Trace Organics from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators, Copenhagen, 20–22 January 1987. Brisbane: Elsevier.

Yen-Hsiung, K. (2018). Fuel Property Estimation and Combustion Process Characterization: Conventional Fuels, Biomass, Biocarbon, Waste Fuels, Refuse Derived Fuel, and Other Alternative Fuels. Sydney: Elsevier Science & Technology Books.