In Hospital waste management, which colored plastic bag is not used?

ISRO- 2016

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: ISRO- 2016

Explanation

The color green is designated for general, non-infectious solid waste in a hospital setting.
This category includes waste similar to household garbage, such as paper wrappers, fruit peels, and leftover food.
Biomedical waste, which is potentially infectious or hazardous, must be segregated into Yellow, Red, White, or Blue containers according to specific rules.
Therefore, a green plastic bag is not used for the disposal of biomedical waste.

Option B: Red bags are a crucial part of biomedical waste management. They are used for contaminated recyclable waste.
Option C: Yellow bags are used for a wide range of infectious and pathological waste, including human anatomical waste, soiled dressings, and expired medicines.
Option D: Blue containers (typically cardboard boxes or puncture-proof bins) are used for specific types of biomedical waste, namely glassware and metallic body implants.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Biomedical Waste Management (BMW) Color Coding helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Correct waste segregation is a fundamental nursing responsibility that directly impacts infection control and the safety of patients, staff, and the community.
Improper disposal, such as placing a needle in a red bag, can lead to needle-stick injuries for waste handlers, potentially transmitting diseases like HIV or Hepatitis B/C.
What if? - If a nurse accidentally discards a used syringe with the needle attached into a red bag instead of a white sharps container, the primary risk is a puncture injury to downstream staff (housekeeping, waste collectors). The immediate nursing action upon realizing the error would be to safely retrieve the item if possible without risk, or to clearly label the bag as containing a sharp and report the incident per hospital protocol.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative keyword in the question: 'not used'. This means you are looking for the option that is an exception.
Recall the standard color-coding system for biomedical waste management as per national guidelines (e.g., BMW Rules, 2016 in India).
Mentally list the colors used for biomedical waste: Yellow, Red, White, and Blue.
Compare this list to the given options: Green, Red, Yellow, Blue.
Eliminate the colors that are part of the biomedical waste system (Red, Yellow, Blue).
The remaining option, Green, is the correct answer as it is used for general, non-biomedical waste.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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