• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 2013

Purpose. To examine the orientation of the eco-friendly Health care service on korean Hospital nurses Methods. Between October 2012 and November 2012, two hundred eighty five nurses (mean age, $25{\pm}17$ years; age range, 22~42yrears) were enrolled in this study. They performed a questionnaire which related to environmental problem, hospital infectious wastes manage and eco-friendly care service orientation. Results. Within the results, There were statistically significant correlation between "Hospital infectious wastes management" and "environmental problem awareness"(r=0.45, p<.001), "eco-friendly care service orientation"and "environmental problem awareness" (r=0.48, p<.001), and "eco-friendly Health care service orientaton" and "Hospital infectious wastes management"(r=0.50, p<.001). Conclusions. In current study, these results express that it is necessary to promote environmental problem awareness and hospital infectious wastes management practice for the "orientation of the eco-friendly Health care service on korean hospital nuurses.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to provide baseline data to arrange systematic management for the infectious waste. Methods: This data was collected by self-reported questionnaires from a total of 419 subjects, ie nurses, nurse's aides and laboratory technicians working at a university hospital located in G city. The collected data were analyzed by t-test or ANOVA, Tukey test, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: The knowledge of the infectious waste was statistically significant in type of staff and level of education. Attitude was statistically significant in type of staff, age group, level of education, working period, and marital status. And also the practice of the subject was statistically significant in type of staff, age group, education level, the working periods, and marital status. There was positive association between attitude and practice(r=.63, ${\rho}$< 001). By means of multiple stepwise regression analysis, total variance explained by the attitude towards infectious wastes, single employee, and the working periods less than ten years was 44% of the practice of infectious wastes. Conclusion: An educational program focusing on strategy to change employee's attitude can be effective for building a well-organized management system.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2007

Recently, as recognizing the risk about the infection of an infectious wastes, the problems about the management and treatment of the infectious wastes stand out socially. In this paper, as being possible monitoring whole processing from the origin of the infectious waste to the processing plant, using the RFID which is the kernel technology of the next generation, we tried to solve the second infection problem by inefficient treatment of the infectious wastes. Through the research suggesting in this paper, as storing and monitoring the procedural business articles and the problem about miss-writing and input error being found in management system like documentary writing by the existing manager and computation input by the web application, we can understand the management state, immediately. And the Bio information for the personal authentication is carried out through storing the feature vector calculation by the PCA algorithm, into the tag. It suggested more systematic and safer management plan than previous thing, as giving attention about the wastes to manager.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health professionals' knowledge, attitude, and practice with regard to infectious waste management and to identify related factors influencing it. Methods: The study comprised of 219 oral health professionals from select dental clinics and public health centers recruited between August 25, 2016 and September 5, 2016, who agreed to participate in the study with full understanding of the study objectives. A self-reported questionnaire was administered, which consisted of 22 items on knowledge of infectious waste management, 9 items on attitude, and 16 items on practice. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression analyses. Results: The age, knowledge, and clinical attitude of oral health professionals significantly correlated with waste management practice. Specifically, infectious waste management practice improved with increasing age, a greater level of knowledge, and a more positive clinical attitude. Additionally, the standardized regression coefficient demonstrated that, of these three factors, clinical attitude more strongly correlated with effective waste management practice, followed by age and level of knowledge. Conclusions: These results indicated that oral health professionals had a low level of knowledge regarding infectious waste management, and a more positive clinical attitude resulted in better practices. Therefore, the development of detailed and active education guidelines and strategies are needed to enhance the attitude, knowledge, and practice of oral health professionals with regard to infectious waste management.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.211-219
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• 2019

Since improper management practices of solid medical waste (SMW) could potentially result in serious health risks and environmental problems, it is very important to properly treat and dispose of the medical wastes. In this study, current practices of SMW management from storage to final disposal stage in 12 health care facilities (HCFs) of Burundi were investigated using the official government reports. The results showed that 75% and 92% of HCFs used uncovered wheelbarrows and trucks for on-site or off-site SMW transportation, respectively, indicating that most transportation equipment and waste workers are not safely protected. The results also showed that 92.8% of SMW (15,736.4 ton) from all 12 HCFs were inappropriately disposed of through uncontrolled land disposal and incineration. If pharmaceutical wastes and discarded medical plastics (29.5% of SMW) can be separated and treated properly, the treatment costs can be reduced and resource savings can be achieved. Raising awareness of healthcare workers and general public about potential health effects arising from improper SMW management, sufficient financial and human resources for the treatment facilities (especially incinerators), and effective regulations and guidelines for transportation and treatment of SWM are some of the major tasks for safe and sustainable medical waste management in Burundi.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.532-544
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• 2017

Objectives: Because the amount of medical waste (i.e., health-care waste) generated in Korea is rapidly increasing and social concern against its safety is widespread, a number of issues related with medical wastes are being discussed. The purpose of this study is to compare diverse medical waste management systems worldwide and propose future directions of a medical waste management system in Korea. Methods: Literature review was conducted mainly on the WHO, and developed countries such as the European Union (Germany, Belgium and UK), Japan and the United States. For these countries, the data with respect to their systems for medical waste management ranging from the definition of medical waste to the whole processes of collection, transportation and disposal were summarized and compared. Results: The terminology and classification of medical wastes were not consistent for WHO recommendation, EU, Japan, US and Korea. Comparison of the collection, storage, transportation and disposal of medical waste showed that Korea had rather stronger regulations for medical waste management compared to developed countries including Belgium (Flanders region), Germany, Japan and the US. Considering that developed countries adopt rather flexible disposal system especially for general medical wastes which pose lower possibility of infection, Korean government could consider diversifying disposal methods other than incineration. It may also be very important to try to reduce the amount of medical wastes and enough capacity for off-site incineration are secured. Conclusion: Our study of international comparisons suggests that it is necessary to continue to identify advantages and disadvantages of the current medical waste management systems and establish more effective one in Korea.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.255-263
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• 2014

It is different from other countries, they limit the possibility of long-distance travel of infectious waste by principles around treatment and recommend to use various techniques. Medical waste generated from the health medical institutions requires more thorough management because it causes potential danger to anybody exposed and also greatly harmful to natural ecosystems. The amendment bill of Wastes Control Act points out growing risk while consigning to remote waste treatment facilities because of the low processing cost and propose area-division as a solution. This study based on literature reviews, comparison of foreign countries and Korean acts. It requires area-division strategies as a suitable alternative considering the domestic situation.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2020

Medical waste is any kind of waste that contains infectious material and recommended not to be transferred for infection control. As a means of disposal, incineration has better points than dumping or landfill in the quantity reduction, odorless and nonhazardous. However, open burning and incineration of health care wastes under bad circumstances, can result in the emission of environmental pollutants to air. A burial of biological waste brings pollution of soil and water. Most of sub divisional hospitals in Fiji transfer their medical wastes to divisional hospitals for incineration. In 2011, 62,518 kg of medical waste was incinerated in the three divisional hospitals. However, some medical wastes are considered as general waste and burnt or sent to landfill site, some are buried on site in some sub-divisional hospitals. In this regards, urgent education is necessary for awareness promotion to relevant personnel in medical waste treatment. On site incineration using small scale incinerator is more recommended than transportation of medical wastes treatment in Fiji. Moreover, remotely controllable and fixable small scale of incinerator is more desirable in sub-divisional hospitals. It is recommended that Fiji government to set up a legal framework for medical waste management (MWM), to develop specific guidelines for MWM, to set up a training system for MWM to ensure that all relevant personnel are trained, to develop a monitoring and supervision system for MWM, to clarify the future financing of MWM activities, and to improve the MWM infrastructure.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.99-113
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• 2008

In order to protect Rescue 119 workers exposed on the spot from potential infection, this study identified their awareness and practices of infection control so that it could help preventing them from infection and also provide basic materials necessary for pre-hospital infection control. This study applied questionnaire survey to total 215 Rescue 119 workers at fire stations in Jeonbuk province, Jeonnam province and Gwangju city from July 14 to Sept. 14, 2006 for the benefit of data collection. The questionnaire about possible associations between awareness and practices of infection control consisted of total 46 times across 6 categories such as washing hands during emergency activities ; fluid therapy and injection ; respirator maintenance; individual hygienics ; disinfectant supplies and equipments maintenance ; and control of infectious wastes. And collected data were processed using SPSS statistic program to analyze frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation, Pearson's correlation coefficient, t-test and one-way ANOVA. As a result, this study came to the following conclusions : In terms of awareness about infection control, our respondents showed highest awareness about infectious waste control, and also showed highest level of practices in washing hands during emergency activities. Throughout all domains, awareness means were higher than practice means. In particular, infectious waste control was the domain of significant differences between awareness and practices. In terms of associations between awareness and individual characteristics, it was found that female rescue worker group and hospital/general hospital career group (before joining the Rescue 119) showed significantly higher awareness on statistic level. In regard to associations between individual characteristics and practices, it was found that female rescue worker group showed higher level of practices than male group on statistic level. This study also analyzed correlations between rescue workers' awareness and practice of infection control. As a result, it was found that the higher awareness was in correlations with the higher practices across all 6 domains including washing hands. In addition, the higher awareness of a questionnaire item was in significantly positive correlations with the higher practice of other items. However, our respondents showed high awareness about anti-infection, but low practices in reality. This indicates necessity of devising possible solutions to improve the practices as much as awareness. Especially, it was noted that major reasons for insufficient practices of infection control guideline come from unhabituated practices and lack of supports for infection-preventing supplies and protective device (mask, etc). Hence, it is necessary to provide more infection-preventing supplies for local rescue workers sufficiently, in parallel with steady habituation of infection control. Furthermore, it is required to manage and study infection control policies even at pre-hospital step in efforts for effective infection control, education and activities.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1572-1578
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• 2007

The specified wastes consist of waste acid, waste alkali, waste oil, waste organic solvent, waste resin, dust, sludge, infectious waste, and others. Among these specified wastes, a great portion is liquid phase wastes. The purpose of this study is to develop the high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) treatment system for decomposition of the liquid phase specified waste (LPSW). For this, we analyzed the physical and chemical properties of the LPSW such as density, proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, heating values, and designed 0.3 ton/day HTHP treatment system. The LPSW tested in this experiment were prepared by adding TCE(trichloroethylene) and toluene to liquid phase waste which was brought into the commercial waste treatment company. The average density of waste oil (25 samples), waste resin (5 samples), and waste solvent (12 samples) was 0.99 g/mL, 0.91 g/mL, and 0.93 g/mL, respectively. And the average lower heating value of waste oil, waste resin, and waste solvent was 8,294 kcal/kg, 5,809 kcal/kg, and 7,462 kcal/kg, respectively. The DRE (Destruction & Removal Efficiency) of TCE and toluene were 99.95% and 99.73% at atmospheric pressure conditions and that were 99.99% and 99.82% at pressurized conditions, respectively. These results showed that TCE/toluene mixtures were properly decomposed over about 99.73% of DRE by the HTHP treatment system and pressurized conditions were more effective to destroy those pollutants than atmospheric pressure conditions. Also these systems could be directly applied to industries which try to treat the liquid phase specified waste within the regulation limit.