Infection Control and the Medismart Container

When it comes to disposing of biomedical waste, one of the biggest concerns facilities have is reducing the risk of infection spreading. Across the globe, healthcare facilities are realising the many benefits of reusable, bagless biomedical waste disposal containers. 

The Medismart Container brings a new level of clean to biomedical waste disposal thanks to a unique design which is engineered for efficient, hands-free use that’s intuitive to the fast-paced environment of Canadian healthcare facilities. 

These reusable containers are not only a more sustainable choice than traditional single-use options, which have previously dominated landfills, but also a practical one. The reusable Medismart container has been designed with Canadian waste disposal regulations in mind and is more than ready to support the needs of even the busiest healthcare environment.

TOPICS WE WILL COVER: 

1 / Compliance with Canadian Regulations is Essential for Biomedical Waste Disposal Containers

2 / The Medismart Container Meets all Required Canadian Regulations

3 / What Sets Medismart Apart?

4 / Choose Medismart to Protect Your Staff, Patients, and Compliance Status 

Compliance with Canadian Regulations is Essential for Biomedical Waste Disposal Containers

Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, hazardous waste must be securely transported and disposed of through strict procedures. This includes wastes such as acids, phenols, arsenic, lead, and mercury, among many others. However, in most cases, biomedical waste is covered by the federal guidelines published as the “Guidelines for the Management of Biomedical Waste in Canada.”

What are the Canadian Requirements for Biomedical Waste Containers?

Under Canada’s “Guidelines for the Management of Biomedical Waste in Canada”, section 3.4.1 provides requirements for reusable containers: “Reusable waste containers must be made of metal or rigid plastic and able to withstand exposure to common cleaning agents. They must be colour-coded according to the type of waste for which they are intended…and labelled with the universal biohazard symbol. Reusable waste containers should be inspected for holes or leaks each time they are emptied, and their colour-coding and labelling renewed if necessary. Holes or leaks must be repaired or the waste container replaced.”

This means that reusable waste containers must be well-constructed in order to handle the regular abuse they will take in handling waste, as well as possess resistance to the chemicals contained in common cleaning agents. Furthermore, the containers should be colour-coded and capable of being relabelled or replaced as necessary. Along with the emphasis on high quality and durability, these guidelines have an additional focus on the devices used to manoeuvre them through a facility, which ensures containers are ready when needed.

Cart and Mobility Requirements

“Carts used for moving biomedical waste through the healthcare facility should be designed to prevent spills and made of materials that are able to withstand exposure to common cleaning agents. The universal biohazard symbol should be clearly displayed on these carts. These carts must be thoroughly cleaned before any maintenance work is performed on them. They should be cleaned regularly to prevent odours and as soon as possible if waste materials leak or spill in the carts.”

In many cases, a medical waste disposal container needs to be manoeuvred throughout a facility, and carts might be used. When a cart or similar device is used, these guidelines require them to be designed to prevent spillage and be able to be regularly cleaned to prevent infection. This is vital because biomedical waste containers play a key role in breaking the chain of infection that may otherwise be allowed to continue.

The Medismart Container Meets All Required Canadian Regulations

The Medismart container is designed with Canadian regulations in mind, meeting and exceeding every standard. The Medismart is clearly labelled, colour-coded, and built of a durable rigid plastic that can withstand countless uses. These containers are designed to dispose of high-risk biomedical waste, which means the Medismart container will be exposed to infectious material. This can raise some concern about the safety of such reusable containers. However, there’s no need to worry, because reusable containers provide a high level of safety and reduce the risks bagged containers can pose. 

Research has shown that the surfaces of reusable containers such as the Medismart are unlikely to harbour a significant number of pathogens when dry and visually clean and that “The risk of pathogen or infectious disease transmission from reusable waste containers is negligible to nil.” In fact, this same research has concluded that a simple detergent wash followed by a visual confirmation of cleanliness is suitable for meeting infection prevention standards in a medical facility.

However, Daniels’ containers go beyond this standard with an eight-stage decontamination and quality assurance process that guarantees each container is free from leaks and punctures and poses no risk of infection. The potential risks associated with infection are too high to take any chances and this is why Medismart containers are designed to break the chain of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) using evidence-based strategies.

What Sets Medismart Apart?

Medismart is the intelligent choice for healthcare facilities looking to be more proactive about reducing HAIs. That’s because the Medismart is designed with a lid that is opened via foot pedal for touchless operation.

The bagless design means that there are no bags to handle, eliminating the risk of punctures, leaks, and spills. There is zero cross-contamination thanks to the design which ensures the container never touches the ground, instead remaining safely contained within its mobile cart. Once the container is full, it can easily be transported to the waste dock and picked up by Daniels, without any need for cardboard boxes or other retrieval measures. Once emptied, each container is sanitized robotically at one of Daniels’ innovative cleaning facilities. 

The Medismart container was designed with hospital staff in mind. Beyond the safety benefits, there are also significant cost reductions, minimized mass and volume of waste, as well as labour and disposal costs.

Choose Medismart to Protect Your Staff, Patients, and Compliance Status

Once you understand the benefits of reusable biohazard waste containers, it’s easy to see why they are becoming continuously more popular among clinics and other healthcare facilities. Reusable containers are not only safe and compliant, but they actually help minimise risks more effectively than their bagged counterparts. 

The Medismart meets and exceeds Canadian safety standards. Research shows reusable containers pose no greater risk of transmitting dangerous pathogens when properly utilized. The Daniels washing process for containers goes above and beyond to ensure complete cleanliness and safety. 

When you want to upgrade your biomedical waste system to one that is intelligently designed to meet the needs of busy healthcare staff, Medismart is ready to step in and provide touch-free disposal, ease of container movement, and seamless disposal and storage. Contact Daniels to learn more about how this system can be easily introduced to your facility.  
 

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