Hazards Assessment of Medical Waste Unit of the Waste Management Organization Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Technique

Abstract

Introduction: Hospital waste is one of the most important pollutants caused by hospital processes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) risks of medical waste unit.
 Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020. The study tool included the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) technique. This research was conducted in three sections of medical Waste Unit of the Waste Management Organization including collection, processing and landfill sections.
 Results: The FMEA results showed that the highest levels of environmental Risk Priority Number (RPN) in the collection, processing and landfill sections were estimated 245, 392, and 294 respectively. Furthermore, the lowest levels of environmental risk in these three sections were calculated as 144, 80, and 60 respectively. The FMEA results indicated that the highest levels of safety and health risk in the collection, processing and landfill sections were calculated to be 252, 420 and 420, respectively. Also, the lowest level of safety and health risk in all three sections was estimated to be RPN=90.
 Conclusion: Findings of this study indicated that the level of hospital waste risk is high. Therefore, reducing the incidence of catastrophic consequences associated with these wastes should be considered a priority of the waste management system.