EVALUATION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE MAIN HOSPITALS IN BENGHAZI CITY

Amer A.  Boushaala; Somia Farag   Dihoma

doi:10.66411/jer.v24i.312

Authors

Amer A. Boushaala Faculty of Engineering, University of Benghazi, Libya Author
Somia Farag Dihoma The Libyan Academy, Benghazi Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66411/jer.v24i.312

Keywords:

Waste Management, Medical Waste, Occupational Safety, Hazardous and General Waste, Reverse Fishbone

Abstract

This study is aimed to examine the waste management practices, occupational safety among medical staff and estimation of waste management costs in the largest three hospitals in Benghazi city during the period from April 2013 to February 2014. A comprehensive survey was conducted for the three hospitals (Aljalaa, Alathefal, Aljmehoria). Sites visits and a questionnaire survey method were implemented to collect information regarding different waste management aspects, including generation, segregation and collection of waste, health and occupational safety, medical examination and vaccination, injuries and training. A questionnaire has been developed for medical staff (doctors, nurses, technicians). Analysis of data was performed by the use of statistical package of social science (SPSS), Pareto chart is also used to identify and prioritize problem areas, and reverse fishbone diagram is used to evaluate and choose of the solutions.The results of this study revealed that, there was insufficient separation between hazardous and general waste, failure to quantify the waste generated in reliable records, use some of unqualified cleaning workers and there are no temporary storage areas. There was no clear policy for vaccination and medical examination, lack of training, lack of wearing of personal protective equipment during work, lack of proper personal protective equipment and a high rate of injuries among medical staff. This study indicates that, good waste management costs are less than poor waste management costs where on average estimated costs of good waste management are 577339 L.D/year while the average estimated costs of poor waste management are 1850585 L.D/year

161 75

References

[1] Agarwal R., Medical Waste Issues, Practices and Policy. New Delhi, 1998.

[2] Dursun. M, Karsak. E. E, and Karadayi A. M, "A Fuzzy MCDM Approach for Healthcare Waste Management", world academy of science, engineering and technology, (73), 2011.

[3] Sawalem. M, Selic. E. and Herbell. D. J., "Hospital Waste Management in Libya: A Case Study", waste management, (29), 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2008.08.028

[4] Alhain. M. A, and Ifhima A. J., "An Analytical, Economical and Environmental Study for Medical Waste Management (Case Studies)", El-Mukhtar, (14), 2007.

[5] Almegreisi. A. and Algwail. E., Solid Waste in Benghazi Hospitals, Bachelor's project, public health college, Benghazi university, Libya, 2002.

[6] Sawalem. M, Selic. E. and Herbell. D. J., "Hospital Waste Management in Libya:

A Case Study", waste management, (29), 2009.

[7] Calin Georgescu, “Special Reporters on The Adverse Effects of The Movement and Dumping of Toxic and Dangerous Products and Wastes on The Enjoyment of Human Right, Human Right Council, 2011.

[8] Pallaant J., SPSS Survival Manual, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill Education,Open University Press, UK, 2005.

[9] Krejcie and Morgan, “Determining Sample Size for Research Activities”, Educational and Psychological Measurement, (30), 1970. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308

[10] Bdour. A, Altrabsheh. B, Hadadin. N. and Alshareif. M., "Assessment of Medical Wastes Management Practice: A Case Study of The Northern Part of Jordan", waste management, (27), 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2006.03.004

[11] Pruss. A, Giroult. E. and Rushbrook. P., Safe Management of Wastes From Health-Care Activities. Geneva, 1999.

[12] Lee. K. B, Ellenbecker. J. M. and Ersaso. M. R "Alternatives for Treatment and Disposal Cost Reduction of Regulated Medical Wastes", waste management, (24), 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2003.10.008

[13] Alhain. M. A, and Ifhima A. J., "An Analytical, Economical and Environmental Study for Medical Waste Management (Case Studies)", El-Mukhtar, (14), 2007