The coronavirus pandemic, which began its infection toll in late 2019, took everyone by surprise. Governments around the world have compelled the use of PPE at different levels. Individuals going outdoors are expected to be putting on their facemasks. At the office or work environments, governments task employers to protect their employees. The company or workplace is expected to do a risk assessment of their peculiar working conditions. The result of risk assessments should lead the organizations to know what PPE must be used.
The essence of these regulations is to ensure minimal contamination across different places. Keeping citizens safe from the virus is the thrust of these regulations.
Vaccine Jinx Breaker
Interestingly, the United Kingdom broke the vaccine jinx ahead of other nations.
The possibility of a vaccine for managing the virus has generated many controversies. A lot of conspiracy theories you may have also heard of flew all over the media. The World Health Organizations and other bodies indicted by these theories kept annulling the allegations. While all that was going on, research institutions kept working on a probable vaccine. The good news is that they soon came up with something.
Although the coronavirus has taken many lives in different places, the vaccine probably promises hope that the virus would be overpowered in the coming days.
Second Wave of COVID-19
The viral load in the environment reduced in the early part of the year’s second half. But it is resurging in different parts of the world as new government restrictions rise afresh. The possibility of successive waves compels the need to use personal protective equipment.
Employers must provide adequate protection for those who visit or work with them. Healthcare guidelines should be followed as recommended by governing health bodies. Organizations need to be aware that PPE ought to be appropriately disposed of, as they’re probable carriers of the disease.
The risk involved when used PPE disposal is not handled correctly could affect the environment. Water bodies, as well as the atmosphere, stand the chance of being dangerously infected.
PPE Waste Disposal
However, PPEs must be discarded properly. For the safety of our environment, used PPE has to be disposed of in disposable PPE bins. Waste bin for PPE should be placed in different work environments. PPE entails all available means of protecting oneself from contracting the virus. They range from face masks to aprons and hand gloves. Disposable PPE waste bins are highly required in health-based working environments such as clinics, hospitals, surgical rooms, and labs.
It will also help to place disposable PPE bins at receptions, walkways, and even strategic public locations.
Regardless of the industry, PPE should be worn to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Different PPE prevents pathogens from gaining entrance into the body systems. It is advised that these contaminated PPE are disposed of in a recyclable PPE waste bin. PPE waste bins should be separated from other containers to minimize possible viral spread.
Note, however, that PPE usage does not stand in the way of maintaining proper hand hygiene.
Points to Note for Used PPE Disposal
- Inform the results of the risk assessment conducted by your organization with your waste services provider.
- Ensure that your work and waste bin arena is thoroughly cleaned after every workday
- Effectively dispose of PPE bins.
- See that your waste doesn’t pile up over time. Try and get the PPE waste bins disposed of regularly. You could instead subscribe to more regular waste disposal services.
- Because of the peculiarity of the moment, do not allow too much traffic at your workplace. Liaise with customers and business partners on how to lessen frequent workplace physical contacts. You could also come up with optimal PPE waste disposal methods for your cleaning staff.
- Finally, PPE’s which is to be only used once should be separated from other streams of waste. Separating the waste would help in reducing the risk of contamination.
