Biohazards in Healthcare: Impact, Management, and Sustainability

This report assesses the problems associated with biohazards in healthcare facilities, focusing on their impact on health, the environment, and organizational stability. Biohazards, defined as biological substances hazardous to living organisms, can lead to various health issues, including Anthrax and foodborne diseases, as well as environmental problems like wildlife contamination and groundwater pollution. The report identifies key risk groups, such as healthcare workers and patients, and discusses the importance of proper waste management to mitigate these adverse consequences. Effective measures, including proper collection, storage, treatment, and disposal of biohazardous waste, are crucial for minimizing risks and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare organizations. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for healthcare establishments to prioritize the safe handling and disposal of biohazards to protect both human health and the environment, with adherence to strict federal, state, and local regulations being paramount. Desklib provides additional solved assignments and study resources for students.

Facilities management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Main Body (Findings)......................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Biohazards is analysed as general term that is used for any kind of material originated
from biological substances that may be hazardous to living organism such as human beings that
contact the material. There are various health problems such as Plague, Anthrax , food borne
diseases have been cuased by being in contact with these biohazards. Further, wildlife and
pharmacutical,contamination of ground water, radio active pollution and Airborne polluntants
are the major problems which provided their impact on environment and health of patients.food
borne diseases is also major problems that are the illenesses contracted to the people though
consumption of contaminated food and beverages.These problems can be resolved by taking
effective measures and providing awareness to people and staff in health care establishments.

INTRODUCTION
Biohazards is analysed as general term that is used for any kind of material originated
from biological substances that may be hazardous to living organism such as human beings that
contact the material. These are also analysed as the biological substances that impose the threat
to the health of living organisms (Hillyer & Shaz, (2013). These are also considered as chemical
substances which is dangerous to the humans, animals and the environment. These biohazards
may involve certain substances, viruses and medical waste that cause several harmful disease to
the persons come in contact with them. Bacteria that are harmful for the humans are considered
as Biohazards. This many involves the fluids, human tissue and blood and recombinant DNA.
These were mainly arisen the micro organism that prevails in environment and waste. They
posses the potential to infect any person who is exposed to them, all human waste should be
properly handled and needs to be disposed of. Present report is based on assessment of problems
of biohazards to health, environment and organisational stability. Further, there are some
important ways have been discussed which are used to manage the adverse consequences of
Biohazards. At the critical analysis of issues along with the own perspective is also developed.
Main Body (Findings)
Problems of Biohazards to health, environment or organisational stability.
Facilities management is often considered as profession that consists of various
disciplines in order to ensure the functionality of the actual developed environment through
integration of individuals, location, procedures and technology. These biohazards are
contaminated by the waste that many be contaminated by the blood, body fluids or the other high
potentially infectious materials which tends to impose the important risk of transferring
infections to the human being and environment. This will include bacteria, viruses, fungi and
other microorganism and their associated toxins (Meesters & Hooff, (2013). Moreover, they
have the ability to affect the health of human in the different ways ranging from the relatively
mild, allergic reactions to the serious medical conditions and even death of patients. These
major organisation are widespread in the natural environment which are usually found in the soil,
plants and animals. These micro organism reproduce very rapidly and needs minimal resources
for the survival, they are also in potential danger in the wide variety of the major occupational
settings. There are various infection problems that affects the health of human beings that work
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in organisation . All individuals which are exposed to the Hazardous health care biohazards are
potentially at risk involving those persons who are in health care organisations which generate
the hazardous waste as well as outside the sources who either handle any type of waste or
expose to its as the problem of careless management (Porru & et.al.. (2012). The group of risk
are there are such as medical doctors, nurses, health care auxiliaries, visitors and patients along
with the workers in supporting service who are also allied with the health care organisation.
There are various problems have been caused by increase in these Biological hazards such as
Anthrax, foodborne disease, plague, fever and juandice etc. Moreover, Anthrax is analysed as the
acute infectious problem that has been cuased by the harmful BA(Bacillus anthracis) (Biological
Agents, (2017). This is considered as dangerous as it is mainly found in the environment in the
form of microscopic endospores (Brandt & Aroniadis, (2013). In this , people at health
establishment can be seriously infected by bacteria through different routes of the exposure when
they have the contact with the inefected people and contaminated products and through
inhalation. Further, food borne diseases is also major problems that are the illenesses contracted
to the people though consumption of contaminated food and beverages. Problems which are
cuased food borne disease can be considered as intoxication and infections that are often not
effectively reffered to as the food poisoning. In health care organisation, these major diseases are
cuased to individuals health by the viruses, parasites, metals, toxins, bacteria and prions (Azmal
& et.al. (2014). There are various symtoms of food borne diseases such as threatning neurologic,
renal syndroms and heptic. Further, there are various infections, that will affects the health of
patients due to careless management of Biohazards such as gastroentic infections, repiratory
problems, skin infections, HIV and viral hepatitise etc.
In addition to this, there are also some major problems which are cuased by biohazards
waste which is generated by health care professional in organisation. Many of the chemical and
medicines which are utilized in the health care organisations are considered harmful . For
example: Toxic, explosive, reactive, explosive and shock sensitive (Potteiger, Wolfe & Cappaert,
(2014). These are various harmful substances that usually present in the small quantity in the
waste. Moreover, large number of substance will be found when the pharmacutical are disposed
off. This intoxication can be the results from the absorption of major harmful chemicals and
the pharmacutical through the skins and mucous membranes which are caused by coming in the
contact of reactive , flammable and corrosive chemicals etc.
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Along with this, environment provided various resources to satisfy the basic requirements
of human beings life . Biohazardous wastes are also known as the infectious or the biomedical
waste that contains the infectous materials. Biohazards waste needs to be handled accordin to
the strict federal state and local regulations (Bristow, (2013). Mishandled biohazards waste
poses a threats not only to the health care professionals but also to the environments. Mishandled
biohazardous waste, professionals , patients and the local community wastes poses a threat to the
environment. Widlife and Pharmacutical are the major elements which are providing impacts on
the waste and parks (Kagoma & et.al. (2012). Moreover, biological hazards dirt or waste which
is generated in the health care establishments and pharmacutical shops that is not properly
disposed off will end up in the lakes, parks and other wildlife birds refuges where the birds and
other animals live. It is identified that wildlife birds and animals are usually gets attracted with
the color of pills and liquid medicine. This curiosity results in the digestion of the medication
which can cuase injuries or vene kills the animals.
Further, the ground water contamination is also considered as major threat which is
caused by this issue. According to Sartaj & Arabgol, (2015), much and more efforts have been
made to ensure that the landfills are mainly developed in order to protect the animals around
them. There are most of the ground water land fills are usaully developed with the special lining
so nearby the soil so that the ground water will not be contaiminated. But the Biohazardous
which are not handed properly will have potential to contaiminate the best landfill designs.
Moreover, the contamination of the ground water resources can also seeks out the exterior oil
and the ground water become oil.
Apart from this, for even effectively diagnose the patients diseases, health care
professional some times use the radio active machinaries. When these radio active tools are not
correctly disposed by them or waste handlind department, then it entred the landfills . These
substances emit the particales which are dangourus to the people. Moreover, the excessive
exposure to the radiocatvity can also results in the serious diseases. Airborne polluntants are also
worst than the land based types as they cab spread the far and wide qucikly.
Other than this, decling conditions of the health care environment is also considered as
the beginning that affects the health of populations in different parts of the world. As a result of
this issues, organisation is required to consider the long term costs of environment costs of
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provding the health care facilities to the patients. This major issues have also provided influence
on the stability health care organisations (Brauer, (2016). When the environment is
contaiminated by these viruses then professionals will also get infected and patinets that arrive
in health care establishment will not proper treatment. Improper waste management will
contaiminate the patients in organisation and also increases their bed time in hospital which
influence the image of hospital and professional in health care sector. Sustainability of
organisation in health care sector also refers to provding treatment and service to patients which
provide them satisfaction of being recovered from disease but due this ineffective biohazardous
waste management, organisation will not be able to provide proper service to patients.
Professional not following the hand hygine will creates problems for patients and tends to raise
their problems. Due to this, patients will not prefers to get treatment from these organisation
which provides impact on the sustainability of organisation.
Ways to manage the adverse consequences of Biohazards.
From the study, it has been analysed that biological hazards are mainly in the form of
Microorganism which are mainly found in the soil , air and biohazardous waste which are
genrated by health care establishment. In order to reduce the impact of the adverse consequences
such as plague, anthrax, food borne diseases and jaundice. For removal of these problems there
are some safety measures that needs to applied by professionals, such as management of
biohazardous waste. This waste should be collected , stored , treated and disposed off through
utilization of practices which minimize the spill and exposure the risk for the lab, personnel ,
service workers and the general public. In order to support this princple, all the waste needs to
stored inside the lab while awaiting pick up (Mathur, Patan & Shobhawat, (2012). Moreover the
waste exerted by health care organisation involves needles and lancets , scalpels and razor
blades, glass slides and contaiminate broken glasses. For removing the problem of Anthrax
which is cuased by contaimination from the infection of biohazardous waste and microorganism.
Collection and storage is consider as important measure which implies that these devices like
needles and radio active tools needs to be kept to be kept in to sharp containers , immediately
after use. Moreover, those containers are required to be biohazard marked , solid walled and leak
proof so that it cannot be broken. Organisation needs to ensure that the lid needs to properly and
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completely installed prior to use for sharp collection. These contaianers must be kept away from
the patients so that they may not get infected.
Along with this, for management of food borne disease it is essentail for the individual to wash
the fruits and vegetables and meats before consumptions. The bacteria present in air
contaminates the food. While consumption of food products and water it is essential for
individuals to consider that there must be clean and hyginic environment (Mensudar, Karthick &
Amudha, (2015). In health care organisation, patients needs to provide health food that remains
from any infections and away from the biohazardous waste. For removal of liquid biohazardous
waste, vaccum flasks and liquid contaianers needs to be charged with the disinfectant ebfore use
to help in prevention of growth of contaminations in the flasks during the holdings period.
Moreover, the collection of vessels must be labelled and name of disinfectant.
In order to reduce the impact of biohazardous waste on environment, it is essential for
health care establishment to take care off that waste must be dumped away from the
establishment. It must be disposed off properly so that it can not enter the land fills and water.
They should also needs to spreads awarness among the patient , visitors and staff about the
causes of this Biohazards so that they will keep proper hygine at workplace (Choi & et.al.
(2014).Proper training must be provided to employees for increasing their knowldege about the
ways through which they prevent themselves from beinf contaminated by infections and
Biohazards. When they will apply safety measure, then it will automatically provide positive
influence on the health of patients and their bed in hospital will get reduced. For maintaining
sustainability of organisation, it is essential for management to control and moniter proper
disposal of Biohazardous waste and ensure that patients must be provided healthier and infection
free environment as well as treatment which help them to recover from diseases.
CONCLUSION
From this report, it is concluded that Biohazards is analysed as general term that is used
for any kind of material originated from biological substances that may be hazardous to living
organism such as human beings that contact the material. There are various health problems
such as Plague, Anthrax , food borne diseases have been cuased by being in contact with these
biohazards. Further, wildlife and pharmacutical,contamination of ground water, radio active
pollution and Airborne polluntants are the major problems which provided their impact on
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environment and health of patients. Stability of organisation also affected due to rise in cost of
health care services, lack of proper biohazardous waste management and decline image of
organisation in health care sector. Moreover, these problems can be resolved by taking effective
measures and providing awareness to people and staff in health care establishments.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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techniques, indications, and outcomes. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 78(2), 240-249.
Brauer, R. L. (2016). Safety and health for engineers. John Wiley & Sons.
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69-84). Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden.
Choi, S. H. & et.al. (2014). Surgical smoke may be a biohazard to surgeons performing
laparoscopic surgery. Surgical endoscopy, 28(8), 2374-2380.
Hillyer, C. D., & Shaz, B. H. (2013). Overview of Infectious Disease Testing. In Transfusion
Medicine and Hemostasis (Second Edition) (pp. 73-78).
Kagoma, Y. & et.al. (2012). People, planet and profits: the case for greening operating rooms.
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 184(17), 1905-1911.
Mathur, P., Patan, S., & Shobhawat, S. (2012). Need of biomedical waste management system in
hospitals-an emerging issue-a review. Curr World Environ, 7(1), 117-124.
Meesters, R. J., & Hooff, G. P. (2013). State-of-the-art dried blood spot analysis: an overview of
recent advances and future trends. Bioanalysis, 5(17), 2187-2208.
Mensudar, R., Karthick, A., & Amudha, D. (2015). Biomedical Waste Management-Green
Dentistry. Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal, 4(1), 201-205.
Porru, S. & et.al.. (2012). Management of biohazard in health care settings. Giornale italiano di
medicina del lavoro ed ergonomia, 34(3 Suppl), 249-251.
Potteiger, K., Wolfe, A., & Cappaert, T. (2014). Sustainability in athletic training: a review of
health implications associated with the environmental degradation and a practical plan for
initiating green techniques. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training,
19(5), 7-11.
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Sartaj, M., & Arabgol, R. (2015). Assessment of healthcare waste management practices and
associated problems in Isfahan Province (Iran). Journal of Material Cycles and Waste
Management, 17(1), 99-106.
Online
Biological Agents, 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/biologicalagents/index.html>
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