The use of failure mode and effects analysis to construct an effective disposal and prevention mechanism for infectious hospital waste

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.07.011· OSTI ID:21578450

Liao, Ching-Jong ^[1]

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1. Department of Industrial Management, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan (China)

Highlights: > This study is based on a real case in a regional teaching hospital in Taiwan. > We use Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) as the evaluation method. > We successfully identify the risk factors of infectious waste disposal. > We propose plans for the detection of exceptional cases of infectious waste. - Abstract: In recent times, the quality of medical care has been continuously improving in medical institutions wherein patient-centred care has been emphasized. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) has also been promoted as a method of basic risk management and as part of total quality management (TQM) for improving the quality of medical care and preventing mistakes. Therefore, a study was conducted using FMEA to evaluate the potential risk causes in the process of infectious medical waste disposal, devise standard procedures concerning the waste, and propose feasible plans for facilitating the detection of exceptional cases of infectious waste. The analysis revealed the following results regarding medical institutions: (a) FMEA can be used to identify the risk factors of infectious waste disposal. (b) During the infectious waste disposal process, six items were scored over 100 in the assessment of uncontrolled risks: erroneous discarding of infectious waste by patients and their families, erroneous discarding by nursing staff, erroneous discarding by medical staff, cleaning drivers pierced by sharp articles, cleaning staff pierced by sharp articles, and unmarked output units. Therefore, the study concluded that it was necessary to (1) provide education and training about waste classification to the medical staff, patients and their families, nursing staff, and cleaning staff; (2) clarify the signs of caution; and (3) evaluate the failure mode and strengthen the effects.

• OSTI ID: 21578450
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 31; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ASIA
BUILDINGS
CHINA
CLASSIFICATION
CLEANING
DETECTION
EDUCATION
EVALUATION
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
HAZARDS
HOSPITALS
ISLANDS
MANAGEMENT
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
PATIENTS
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TAIWAN
TRAINING
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES