10-04-2017, 08:45 PM
BIO-MEDICAL WASTE
The formal definition of biomedical waste is: Bio-medical waste means any solid and/or liquid waste including
its container and any intermediate product, which is generated during the
diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals or in research
pertaining thereto or in the production or testing thereof.
The hazardous and toxic parts of waste from health care establishments comprising infectious, bio-medical and radio-active material as well as sharps (hypodermic needles, knives, scalpels etc.) constitute a grave risk. Diseases like cholera, plague, tuberculosis,
hepatitis (especially HBV), AIDS (HIV), diphtheria etc can spread if the recycling process is done unscientifically.
Waste Generation:
Qualitative as well as quantitative survey of the waste generated is the goal of this step. Healthcare establishments as well as The whole town / city must be included in this .
WASTE IDENTIFICATION AND WASTE CONTROL PROGRAM
FOR THE HEALTH CARE ESTABLISHMENTS
Identification of Various Components of the Waste Generated:
Documenting the medical/bio-medical practice/procedures carried out by
the particular health care establishment must be done. current practices and responsibilities must be assessed.
WASTE STORAGE:
This is to be done at the point of generation and at the common storage for the total waste inside a health care organisation.
Recommended Labelling and Colour Coding:
A notice describing describing which waste should go to which container and how frequently it has to be routinely removed and to where,
is to be pasted.
Segregated Storage in Separate Containers:
Each category of waste has to be kept segregated in a proper container. The bags/containers should not be filled more than 3/4th capacity.
WASTE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL:
Incineration:
This is a high temperature thermal process employing combustion of the
waste under controlled condition for converting them into inert material and gases. Both oil fired and electrical incinerators can be used.
Autoclave Treatment:
It is a low heat process in which steam is brought into direct contact with the waste material for duration sufficient to disinfect the material.
Hydroclave Treatment:
It is a double walled container, in which the steam is injected into the
outer jacket to heat the inner chamber containing the waste . During this , the Moisture contained in the waste evaporates as steam and builds up the requisite steam pressure.
Microwave Treatment:
microwave heats the targeted
material from inside out, providing a high level of disinfection
Chemical Disinfecting:
A 1% hypochlorite solution with a minimum contact period of 30 minutes or other equivalent reagents such as phenolic compounds, iodine,
hexachlorophene, iodine-alcohol or formaldehyde-alcohol combination etc are used.
Sanitary and Secured Landfilling:
This is used for:
-Deep burial of human anatomical waste
-Animal waste
under no facility for incineration .
for more details, refer this pdf:
http://urbanindia.nicpublicinfo/swm/chap7.pdf