Storage  
 

Caution, biological hazard.

• medical waste should be stored in a clean, leak-proof, clearly labelled container suitable for transport to a disposal site. Biological specimens should be incinerated; 
• people responsible for collecting medical waste should be authorised by the Health Department. Pharmaceuticals should be disposed of as for medical waste; Part 2 of the Environmental Protection (Interim Waste) Regulation 1996 requires that vehicles undertaking a waste removal service must be approved by the Chief Executive (Queensland Department of Environment) and 

 

Transporters of clinical and related waste to off-site disposal facilities should comply with the requirements of the Australian Dangerous Goods Code. Waste Transporters must be licensed under the enviornmental Protection Act 1994.  

The holding compartment of the transport vehicles should be totally enclosed, weather-proof and lockable.  

Medical waste should not be held in the vehicle overnight.  

The disposal facility to which the waste is transported should be approved by the Health Department.  

The transporter should provide a signed statement giving details about the producer of the waste and obtain the signed acknowledgment of the disposal site operator that the waste was received.  

The transporter should be aware of his or her responsibilities under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act, administered by the Mines Department.  

Disposal  

Where available, an incinerator approved by the Department of Environment should be used to dispose of medical waste.  

Where waste is disposed of at a supervised landfill, the site operator should be notified.  

A representative from the Department of Environment should be consulted regarding information pertinent to the Environment Protection Act and subordinate legislation. 

Coping with Work Related Stress  

Stress can be an inevitable part of work in the Community Services Industry, because these workers may often deal with the sick, elderly, and injured on a daily basis.  

No job is free from stress. All work brings responsibilities, problems, demands and pressures. In normal circumstances they are an unavoidable part of working life. We are paid to work and a reasonable amount of pressure can be expected.  

Not all pressure is negative. We are often kept motivated by the challenges and difficulties we meet and are able to solve at work.  

However, our ability to deal with pressures is not limitless. Performance can drop, inefficiencies can occur and the health of employees declines.  

What is Stress?  

 

Stress is usually described as the reaction in people to excessive demands, pressures and expectations. A sense of loss of control over their lives or that they cannot cope usually accompanies stress.

 

• physical effects may include increased heart rate, headache, blurred vision, perspiration, dizziness, aching neck and shoulder muscles, clenched jaw and skin rashes; and 
• behavioural effects, sometimes include increased anxiety and irritability, "flying off the handle" easily, excess alcohol and other drug-taking, fitful sleeping and poor concentration. 

When relief from a stressful situation is not available, or is of short duration before the next onslaught, the body has no time to repair, and the stress becomes long-lasting and more serious. Long-term problems emerge and recovery time, even with professional help, takes much longer.  

Causes of Stress  

Due to individual differences, pinpointing specific workplace activities that are likely to cause stress is difficult. What may be seen as a challenge by one individual may be an impossible task or boring and repetitious to another.  

Your individual background, motivation, experience, skills and knowledge, and the support from managers, supervisors and colleagues, all play an important role.  

While it may be beyond the employer's responsibility, it is necessary to take into consideration the fact that not everyone comes to work with a cheerful disposition to start with. A death or sickness in the family, a temporary setback or other personal problems will influence the way in which we cope with the pressures of work.  

Levels of stress that become harmful are likely to occur when there is:  

• prolonged or increasing pressures occurring without relief; 
• a sense of powerlessness over the demands being made; 
• a series of conflicting demands without easy resolution; 
• a continuous threat of violent or aggressive behaviour with little or no defence; and 
• organisational change that impacts on individuals. 

 

Those not in a supervisory or management position  may have an increased sense of these situations.

 

• bullying, conflict, harassment; 
• a lack of leadership and clear direction; 
• work arrangements, deadlines and demands set without consultation; and 
• a high degree of uncertainty about the job. 

 

Some jobs within the Community Services industry  can be inherently stressful due to  the nature of the work.

 

• dealing with violent and aggressive behaviour or the threat of it occurring; dealing with injury, disease and death; and 
• having continuous contact with people and human suffering.