Evaluating the operational risks of biomedical waste using failure mode and effects analysis

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Risk Management

Background:

• Biomedical waste generation presents significant operational problems and risks.
• Microbiological contamination of biomedical waste is a critical but under-researched area.
• Effective management is crucial for protecting workers, the public, and the environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate operational problems and risks in biomedical waste management using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• To identify and assess failure modes across the biomedical waste lifecycle.
• To enhance understanding and improve biomedical waste management practices.

Main Methods:

• Applied Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to the biomedical waste lifecycle.
• Divided the lifecycle into seven processes: production, classification, packaging, sterilization, weighing, storage, and transportation.
• Identified twenty main failure modes and assessed risks using Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs).

Main Results:

• Failure modes in the production phase contributed the highest RPN score (27.7%).
• The packaging phase showed a high RPN for 'sharp articles not placed in solid containers' due to severity.
• Human factors, particularly operator-related issues, were prominent in sterilization phase failures.

Conclusions:

• Biomedical waste management involves significant risks, with production and packaging phases being critical.
• Human error is a key factor in sterilization failures, necessitating targeted training and protocols.
• Improved risk assessment and management strategies are essential for safer biomedical waste handling.