Waste Management in Hospitals and Medical Centers: A Strategic Guide According to NHRA and Bahrain National Regulations

medical staff disposing of a sharp needle and syringe into the puncture proof sharp container

What if I told you that a simple bin could save lives or destroy reputations?

In the bustling heart of every hospital or clinic, waste bins quietly collect the by-products of care. But what happens next is far from routine; it’s a potential public health crisis waiting to unfold.

An improperly disposed needle, an infectious dressing in the wrong bin, or expired medications dumped casually, these aren’t just oversights. They’re ticking time bombs that can lead to HIV transmission, hepatitis outbreaks, legal penalties, and catastrophic reputational damage.

Welcome to the world of healthcare waste management, a system often overlooked, yet critically tied to infection control, staff safety, environmental protection, and regulatory accreditation.

If you’re a healthcare leader, infection control nurse, or safety officer in Bahrain, this guide is your urgent call to action. In this blog, we offer you SMART actions for better Waste Management.

Healthcare facilities generate various types of waste: some hazardous, some infectious, and some general. Improper handling can result in:

• Occupational exposure to pathogens or injuries

• Environmental pollution

• Legal and accreditation penalties

• Risk to public health and community safety

• Infections like HIV, Hepatitis B/C, or environmental diseases can spread if healthcare waste is not correctly segregated, stored, treated, and disposed of.

Regulatory Framework in Bahrain

In Bahrain, healthcare waste management must align with

1. NHRA Accreditation Standards 2nd Edition, Version 6 (2023), Standard 12.3: Environmental Health and Waste Management, mandates a documented waste management plan, staff training, audits, and compliance monitoring.

2. Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) Guidelines regulate transportation, treatment, and disposal of hazardous and medical waste.

3. Ministry of Health circulars and municipal laws dictate the use of licensed contractors and ensure all waste reaches licensed treatment facilities.

Categories of Healthcare Waste (As per NHRA & WHO)

1. Infectious Waste

2. Sharps

3. Pharmaceutical Waste

4. Chemical Waste

5. Anatomical Waste

Essential Components of a Waste Management Program

1. Waste Management Policy and Plan

   1. Develop and approve a comprehensive waste management policy that includes:

      1. Categorization and segregation

      2. Color-coded system

      3. Handling, storage, and transport

      4. Disposal and treatment methods

      5. Emergency spill response: NHRA requires that this be documented, accessible, and periodically reviewed

      6. Color-Coded Segregation System (Bahrain Standards)

2. Safe Handling & Internal Transport

   1. Waste handlers must wear full PPE (gloves, gown, mask, goggles)

   2. Trolleys should be easy to disinfect and marked as “Clinical Waste Only.”

   3. Waste must be transported twice daily or more frequently as needed.

   4. Spill kits and SOPs should be in place in every clinical area.

3. Temporary Storage Room Requirements

   1. Be away from patient care areas

   2. Be well-ventilated and secured

   3. Have washable floors and walls

   4. Have signage in Arabic/English: “Biohazardous Waste”

   5. Max storage period: 48 hours, as per local regulation

   6. Temperature from 15 to 18°C

5. Treatment & Disposal

NHRA mandates the use of licensed third-party waste contractors. Contractors must:

1. Be approved by the Supreme Council for Environment

2. Maintain transport logs and destruction certificates

3. Common methods: Incineration, Autoclaving, Chemical disinfection

Staff Training & Education

It is highly recommended to engage all staff in continuous training on waste management at a minimum frequency of once a year and during staff onboarding. This training should ideally include:

• Waste classification and segregation

• Use of color-coded bins

• Sharps safety (never recap!)

• Spill response

• Reporting incidents of wrong waste disposal or sharp injury

Monitoring, Audits, and KPIs

Recommended performance indicators include:

• % of staff trained on waste handling (Target ≥ 95%)

• % of waste correctly segregated (audit score) (Target ≥ 90%)

• Incident reports related to waste injuries (Target Zero tolerance)

• Time to resolve waste-related incidents (Target < 24 hours)

• % of expired pharmaceuticals disposed of properly (Target 100% monthly)

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Mixing general and infectious waste in one bin

• Using the incorrect container color

• Overflowing waste bins in clinical areas

• Delays in internal transport

• Untrained outsourced housekeeping staff

• Missing records of waste destruction

SMART Management Recommendations

We advise every healthcare facility to:

1. Develop a Waste Management Manual aligned with NHRA standards

2. Assign a Waste Officer (often part of the Infection Control Team)

3. Conduct monthly audits

4. Train all staff with scenario-based simulations

5. Keep documentation ready for NHRA surveyors

Conclusion

Waste management in healthcare is a shared responsibility from nurses and doctors to cleaners and top leadership. When done right, it prevents infections, protects staff, ensures compliance, and demonstrates professionalism. Let SMART Management Consultancy help your team build a fully compliant and sustainable healthcare waste management system.

Contact us for policy development, staff training, audit templates, or accreditation preparation.

SMART Management Consultancy, your partner for better performance and compliance.

WhatsApp +973 36077750,

Email: info@smartmcbh.com

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