CONCLUSION

Plate 5. Storage of Manure before Composting

4.4 CONCLUSION

This chapter presented results of a study of veterinary practices and companies disposing of waste from veterinary practices in the Durban Unicity. The study indicated a number of findings, of which the main ones are summarised at the end of this chapter.

Some of these findings reflect areas of concern and the need for guidelines or clarification. Concerning veterinary practices, guidelines are needed for how to minimise, separate and dispose of the various categories of waste from veterinary practices. Also there is need for veterinarians to know their responsibilities as generators of waste and what records they need to keep. They also need to know how to control the waste leaving their practices and how best staff can be protected from the dangers posed by veterinary waste, (Table 13).

Waste disposal companies as well as veterinarians need to be clear about their obligations with regards to disposal of waste. This includes responsibility for waste removed from veterinary practices. Does this waste pose a hazard to staff at waste disposal companies and how is it possible to protect staff against these hazards- is there a need for training and vaccination of staff as well as waste generators? There is a need to know what documentation is required by waste disposal companies to facilitate the tracking of waste and protocols for handling various categories of waste from veterinary practices. A summary of the waste produced and the quantities reported are provided in Table 8. Recommendations for the 'needs' that have been identified for both veterinary practices and waste disposal companies will be presented in Chapter 5. The main findings presented here (Table 16) will be discussed in the next chapter, and a set of guidelines and recommendations relating to the needs identified will be presented.

Table 16. Summary of Main Findings and Needs to be Addressed.

VETERINARY PRACTICES

ISSUE/MAJOR FINDINGS NEEDS ARISING

§~

Some veterinarians are not aware of their responsibilities What are generator as generators of veterinary waste, with respect to ECA and responsibilities as far as

H"l NEMA. the laws are concerned?

co < The majority of veterinary practices in the Durban area H~~ can be classified as veterinary clinics that treat small

.- «20 animals. These practices tend to be located in low poverty

U')IL.

w areas. This trend is also true for practices included in

et. the sample.

Practices maybe classified on practice size. Veterinary Z hospitals produce more waste and spend more money on C) waste disposal compared with veterinary clinics. The

t

same is true for the number of staff working at a

::> practice and the total number of animals seen as patients.

£:)

0 Based on the types of patient seen, most practices deal a:0.. with small animals. Large animal practices produce more

U.If-. waste compared with small animal practices. Large animal

CIll< practices also have more space for inpatients, see more

~ patients and have more staff compared with small animal practices.

Z Incorrectly disposed of domestic waste constitutes12% How to separate wO of total clinical waste for this survey. domestic waste from

\,)~ The majority of sharps are being disposed of via single other clinical waste.

«<

:;)« use plastic containers. Some sharps were, however, for safety and to

0<

"la.._w disposed of in plastic bags and multiple use containers reduce costs.

"l with what was described as domestic waste.

The majority of veterinary waste is stored in plastic Guidelines for disposal

~ ^baas. of anatomical,

Anatomical waste (cadavers and anatomical waste) is infectious, domestic

<« stored in non-specific containers and is not refriqerated. waste, sharps,

~

"l Infectious waste forms a large part of the waste stream. containers, storage w most of this waste is stored in single use plastic bags temperature. There is

t;

that are then frozen. Some infectious waste was need for a protocol.

<~ reportedly not frozen or refrigerated and was stored in multiple use containers.

TABLE 16. Summary of Main Findings and Needs to be Addressed-Continued.

VETERINARY PRACTICES

ISSUEIMAJOR FINDINGS NEEDS ARISING

IC,D Some veterinary practices keep inadequate records of A guide as to what

Oz

the wastes generated at their practices. Control records needs to be

«1-400. measures for wastes leaving the practice vary from kept by the veterinarian

\,)wWw

practice to practice and are often inadequate.

«~

Waste management is not being monitored by any Whose responsibility is authorities. Records are not being inspected. this?

Veterinary practices treat very little waste at their What guidelines needed u.. premises. Waste disposal companies are disposing of for veterinary practices Ow most waste. Waste that is reused by the veterinarian is and waste disposal wJ-V) V) normally disinfected before re-use. This includes used companies with regard to

::><

I~ syringes, needles, blades, drip administration sets and re-use.

w« drip bags. Treatment is usually through disinfection with steam, chemical aQents or formalin.

Some staff are not vaccinated against any diseases. There is a need for a list

u.. of some of the more

u..<l- important diseases and

V) precautions to be taken,

u..0 e.g. vaccinations.

Z Some staff handling waste are supplied with inadequate What basic safety

0

8

^equipment. equipment is required or

w proposed by the OHSA?

I- Some staff at veterinary practices have poor or What training and follow- 0« sometimes no training with regard to waste management up is needed?

a.

(Le. the risks involved and how to avoid them).

Pg. 76

TABLE 16. Summary of Main Findings and Needs to be Addressed-Continued.

WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANIES

ISSUE IMAJOR FINDINGS NEEDS ARISING

Some waste disposal companies do not vaccinate staff There is a need for a list handling veterinary waste against any diseases. of some of the more

important diseases,

\J precautions and vaccines.

~C~ Some staff handling veterinary waste are not given any What training and :>

c.. training (and may not be warned against the hazards of follow-up is needed, for

UJ their work). Where this does happen, training maybe staff and for clients :LI- inadequate and there may not be any follow-up or (Waste generators)?

£)

Z refresher courses for staff.

< Some veterinary waste disposal companies do not train :2:

...

clients in waste management practices.

w~ There are no emergency procedures in place at some What are regarded as

Z waste disposal companies. emergencies and what

0«- action need to be taken?

~Z Some waste disposal companies open plastic bags from Protocols or guidelines w veterinary practices and inspect the contents for for handling infectious

IL. invoicing purposes before transportation. One waste veterinary waste and

IL.~ disposal company does not incinerate plastic bags; waste from incinerators.

t;

"- instead it removes cadavers (which are incinerated) and 0 disposes of the plastic bags through the local general

Z solid waste disposal system.

E

0

w

_I- Ash from biomedical and veterinary waste incinerators is being disposed of through the domestic waste disposal 0Cl!

system.

0..

Some waste disposal companies do not regard veterinary What is the hazard waste as being as hazardous as medical waste. status of veterinary

waste?

Waste disposal companies do not employ a standardised What documentation is documentation system that will help track waste though needed for waste

o \ ! )

all stages, from point of generation to final disposal. disposal companies in

Cl!Z

0""uo.. this reaard?

WWCl!~ Relevant authorities are not monitoring the activities of Who is responsible for some waste disposal companies. monitoring the activities

of these companies?

§w

The management at some waste disposal companies are What are generator not aware of their responsibilities in terms of the responsibilities of waste .... 1- Environmental Conservation Act and National disposal companies?

coli)

....

^~ Environmental Management Act.

II)~

ZCl!

20

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w

_Cl!

CHAPTER 5 - DISCUSSION