WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
Stop your sluice room being an ‘often overlooked corner’
The global commitment to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions has led numerous industries to seek sustainable solutions. For the healthcare sector, says Haigh Customer Service lead, Wendy Andrews, a simple yet significant contribution to this goal lies in an often overlooked corner – the sluice room. In particular, the traditional use of hot water or steam to clean bedpans results in significant energy consumption and environmental impact, plus increasing financial costs. Here she sets out Haigh’s solution.
At Haigh Engineering, a UK-based company with a factory in Herefordshire, we offer an innovative solution to the substantial energy consumption and environmental impact of using hot water or steam to clean bedpans with our Panaway DS bedpan machine. We are known for our commitment to Net Zero goals, and indeed over 50% of our factory’s electrical requirements are met by solar PV, with plans to increase this self- generation level over time. In line with this commitment, Haigh’s bedpan disposers, when compared with hot water washing
alternatives, have proven to reduce CO2 emissions and save thousands of pounds
of electricity per site each year.
An upgrade in efficiency and sustainability In the push toward sustainability, it is essential not to overlook the smaller, seemingly insignificant, aspects of our day- to-day operations. In healthcare facilities, one such area that often slips under the radar is the sluice room. A necessary part of any healthcare setting, the sluice room plays a critical role in managing
waste, including bedpans, adult nappies, and incontinence pads. Traditionally, the cleaning and disposal processes in this area have relied upon hot water or steam, resulting in considerable energy use, and, in turn, contributing to carbon emissions. However, the shift towards sustainability has brought an innovative solution to the fore – the Panaway DS bedpan machine from Haigh Engineering. This revolutionary machine negates the need for hot water or steam in the cleaning process, resulting in substantial energy savings. One of the system’s key benefits is emissions
the drastic reduction in CO2
associated with commode pot and bedpan cleaning. When compared with traditional hot water washing alternatives, the Panaway DS can save thousands of pounds of electricity per site each year. This corresponds to considerable carbon savings – for a bedpan or pot washer used 10 times a day, the reduction in CO2
could
be a significant 1,050 kg per annum. This impact is magnified for sites with multiple dirty utility rooms, making it a significant contributor to any healthcare facility’s Net Zero goals.
Safe and efficient waste disposal However, the benefits of the Panaway DS extend beyond just energy savings. The machine also provides a more efficient and safer means of dealing with waste, particularly in terms of infection control. By using a macerator to dispose of waste, the Panaway DS eliminates the need to reintroduce washed items into a clean environment. This dramatically reduces the risk of cross-contamination, a major concern in any healthcare setting.
Haigh says the Panaway DS offers users a ‘drastic reduction’ in CO2 associated with commode pot and bedpan cleaning.
60 Health Estate Journal June 2023 emissions
Dealing with difficult to-dispose-of items This is where Haigh’s Incomaster product comes into play. The Incomaster is designed specifically to dispose of adult nappies and incontinence pads. Traditionally, these items – owing to their bulky nature – are difficult to dispose
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