Hospital equipment: disposal, reuse or safe destruction?

The safe disposal, reuse and destruction of hospital equipment requires compliance with current environmental and health standards. Appropriate procedures minimize risks to public health and the environment, following legal and technical guidelines.

Regulatory Standards for the Disposal of Hospital Equipment

Brazilian legislation establishes clear rules for the management of waste from hospital units, according to Law No. 12.305/2010, which establishes the National Solid Waste Policy. Equipment that is no longer usable should be disposed of in accordance with this law and related regulations, avoiding contamination and the spread of pathogens.

Procedures for Reuse and Recycling

The reuse of hospital equipment should only take place when there is a technical possibility of decontamination and a guarantee of functionality and safety, in accordance with the recommendations of the National Policy on Solid Waste. Disused or damaged devices containing electronic components require attention to specific legislation for their proper disposal, with referral to specialized sites. The hospital electronic equipment collection service offers a suitable solution for managing this waste.

Secure Destruction of Equipment with Sensitive Data

Equipment with data storage, such as monitors and hospital computer systems, requires secure destruction to protect sensitive information. The sanitization of magnetic or electronic media must follow strict technical protocols. To ensure the integrity of information before disposal, use services specialized in secure destruction of hard drives and media, according to standards established by NIST Special Publication 800-88.

Responsibilities and penalties

Legislation, including the Law No. 12.305/2010 and regulations from the CETESB, assign responsibilities to equipment managers to ensure the proper and environmentally correct handling of hospital waste. Failure to comply can result in administrative, civil and criminal penalties.