To the issue of safety: disposal of medical waste in Ukraine

Anna Valerskaya , master of PM, international trainer-teacher, winner of international and all-Ukrainian championships in permanent make-up

We live in a time of intensive development of technologies and their introduction into people's daily lives. The beauty industry has not been left out either. In an effort to always look beautiful and correct certain imperfections, many women are increasingly turning to a permanent makeup master.

Naturally, the question arises not only of professional skill, but also of the safe conduct of the procedure. To create beauty in our work, we use a certain range of materials and tools. Some materials are used only once. These are paper napkins, sponges, needle nose, pigment container, clip cord protection. Tools are wrapped in stretch film. After the end of the procedure, all components of the equipment undergo the necessary disinfection (soaking, dry heat). And what to do with needles? After all, they contain biological material that poses a potential danger to the master, the next client or technical personnel.

When disposing of this tool, one should be guided by the Order of the Ministry of Health No. 325 of June 8, 2015 "On approval of the State sanitary and anti-epidemic rules and norms for the treatment of medical waste." It is this order that sets out the rules that establish general requirements for the handling of medical waste in healthcare facilities in order to prevent their negative impact on life, public health and the environment and determine the procedure for collection, transportation, storage, sorting, processing (processing), disposal, removal, disinfection, burial, destruction of medical waste.

Needles belong to category B waste. This is an epidemically hazardous medical waste. The waste management system consists of the following stages: waste collection and sorting; waste labeling; disinfection (disinfection); transportation and transfer of waste to hull / inter-hull (accumulative) containers within the institution where they are generated; waste disposal (those that may be subject to disposal); waste disposal. Medical waste that poses a risk to human health cannot be accumulated, temporarily stored, transported, or destroyed together with other waste.

Category B waste includes certain infectious and potentially infectious wastes that come into contact with biological media of infectious material. This is a used medical instrument (sharp objects: needles, syringes, scalpels and their blades, glass slides, ampoules, empty test tubes, broken glassware, vasofixes, pens, pipettes, lancets, etc.); items contaminated with blood or other body fluids. Certain wastes are subject to mandatory decontamination (disinfection) by physical methods (thermal, microwave, radiation, etc.).

When collecting category B waste, it is prohibited to destroy, cut medical waste, including used systems for intravenous infusions in order to decontaminate them; remove the needle from the syringe after use; perform any operations with waste without gloves or the necessary personal protective equipment and overalls. Use puncture-resistant, moisture-resistant containers (containers) to collect sharp objects. The container must have a tight-fitting lid to prevent its uncontrolled opening.

In practice, the master of permanent makeup must disinfect the used needle and place it in a marked container. The container must have a red stripe and the inscription "Danger". The container can be stored in the manipulation room for two days. Further, the waste material is taken out for subsequent disposal. To do this, you need to conclude an agreement with the relevant service.

Needle burner

In my practice, I have cast collected needles in plaster to improve safety. But the idea that the container should be in my studio for at least some time bothered me. That's why I bought a needle burner. Now, immediately after the procedure, I have the opportunity to burn the needle. In this way, I take care of my health, the health and safety of my clients, and the safety of all people outside my studio.