Strategies for Management of COVID 19 Waste and Linens for Personal Safety in a Healthcare Setting at Prapokklao Hospital
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: The more infectious waste and soiled clothing there were at Phrapokklao Hospital during the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the less employees wanted to work with COVID-19 waste and linen management because they were afraid of being infected with COVID-19.
OBJECTIVES: To assess strategies for the safe management of infectious waste and soiled clothing
METHODS: An action study was carried out among 30 employees working in the management of waste and stained clothes for 8 COVID wards from May to December 2021. The first step was planning and analysis of the COVID-19 outbreak, the organizational policy for personnel safety standard framework, and a review concerning the development of the protocols for the management of infectious waste and soiled clothes, as well as coordination with multi-disciplinary teams to prepare employees to work using adult learning theory to enhance knowledge and practice skills for managing infectious waste and contaminated clothes so work could be done correctly with agility and confidence. In May 2021, infectious waste and stain management procedures were initiated at the COVID-19 wards. Close supervision of operations and monitoring of the COVID-19 infections of workers were carried out, then the collected data were used to reflect and continuously improve the work process.
RESULTS: The majority of participants were male (56.7%) with an average age of 32.8±12.8 years. Most performed the removal of protective equipment incorrectly (66.7%). Incomplete handwashing was also observed (33.3%). However, they improved their work continuously. During a total of 3,274 days of infectious waste and contaminated clothes management, there were no incidences of employees being infected with COVID-19. The strategies were established with strong teamwork and a closed-monitoring system for employees as well as enhancement of COVID-19 knowledge and work skills practice.
CONCLUSIONS: Strategies for managing waste and soiled linens in the COVID-19 wards at Phrapokklao Hospital can help mitigate or prevent COVID-19 infections among employees.
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