Due to the fact that waste disposal devices are constantly used in medical centers. Their correct and safe operation is of great importance. In order to prevent damage and also reduce the sleep time of waste disposal devices in medical centers, the General Department of Monitoring and Evaluation of Medical Equipment and Supplies has developed instructions for use and preventive maintenance (PM) for waste disposal devices and in the preparation instructions The measures that must be taken by the personnel of the medical center and the technical personnel of the manufacturer or their legal representative in order to achieve the correct and safe operation of the waste disposal device on a daily or periodic basis, as well as points related to the use of the device Is. This recipe is designed in three chapters. The first chapter includes the introduction and the second chapter contains the principles of operation of the waste disposal device and the third chapter contains the preventive maintenance checklist (PM) of the waste disposal device.
Principles of operation of the waste disposal device:
There are various methods to decontaminate waste, which are 4 common methods in our country:
1- Mechanical method: Decontamination is done by using mechanical wear and reaching a certain temperature at the specified time.
2- Chemical method: In this method, the air in the garbage bag is evacuated through a mechanism and decontamination is done by adding disinfectant solutions.
3- Microwave method: using microwave waves to decontaminate.
4- Autoclave method: This method is one of the common methods of waste disposal or the same as decontamination of infectious waste.
In this instruction, because the autoclave method is often used to decontaminate infectious waste in medical centers, the safety device by autoclave method and its preventive maintenance procedure will be described.
Autoclave decontamination:
The autoclaving method uses moisture, heat and pressure to inactivate the microorganisms, making the waste safe at 135 ° C and PSI31 pressure for 45 minutes. Garbage bags placed inside the autoclave must be heat resistant so that they do not melt.
In the sterile cycle, the device is used to sterilize waste. Sterilization is performed by injecting steam into the chamber of the device at a certain temperature. Before the sterilization stage, the air inside the chamber is evacuated in three stages. After sterilization, in the drying stage, the waste dries by reducing the chamber pressure and at a certain time.
Autoclave devices are subjected to microbiological tests once a month to ensure the correct operation of the device. This test is performed by microbial markers that are located inside the vials.
Disadvantages of this device include leachate production and the need to use special bags.
Pre-installation requirements
- Electricity: phase control for the device panel, Earth meter control
- Steam: Pressure reduction station approved by the manufacturer or its legal representative.
- Water: Pressure and hardness according to the manufacturer’s recommendation
- Sewage: separate and have a vent.
Ventilation and fan to be approved by the manufacturer. - The lighting of the area must be approved by the manufacturer.
- User training: Each user of the device must be trained by the company.
- Prepare the location and installation of the device according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Compressed air: Normal pressure of humidity and oil and approved by the manufacturer.
- Cooling and heating systems: ambient temperature between 20 to 25 degrees, ambient humidity below 60%.
Preventive Maintenance (PM) Waste Disposal Checklist:
| Daily | Weekly | monthly |
|---|---|---|
| An empty cycle and chemical tests should be performed before starting the machine. | Check water, steam and compressed air connections for leaks | Check the safety valve according to the manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Clean the external surfaces of the machine and the screen with detergent | Check the air filter. | Clean and inspect the filters of the device |
| Clean the inner surfaces and chamber with a non-acidic soap solution and then wash with water. | Evacuate the steam generator with a pressure of 1 to 2 times. | |
| Avoid using abrasives when cleaning surfaces. | Check the steam generating tank. | |
| Check inlet water for pressure and hardness. | Check the function of the Button Emergency button. | |
| Check the outlet water path. | Check the performance and control of noise and vibration of solenoid and pneumatic valves during operation and ensure their correct operation. | |
| Recorder or printer control in terms of paper and pen. | Perform leak test of the device. | |
| Steam and compressed air control | ||
| Check the chamber output filter and clean it if necessary. |