What does biomedical waste means?

Biomedical waste means any waste, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biological and including categories mentioned in Schedule I of the Biomedical Waste Management Handling Rules, 1998.

Importance

Proper management of biomedical waste is of paramount importance because of its infectious and hazardous characteristics. Improper management can result in the following:

1. Fermentation of organic portion to attract fly breeding

2. Increased risk of infections to medical, nursing and other hospital staff

3. Injuries from broken pieces of containers and needles to health workers and waste handlers

4. Poor infection control leading to nosocomial infections in patients particularly HIV, hepatitis B and C •

5. Increase in risk associated with hazardous chemicals and drugs for persons handling wastes

6. Encourages unscrupulous persons to recycle disposables and disposed drugs for repacking and reselling

7. Development of resistant strains of microorganisms.

Guidelines

Segregation and Packing

Biomedical waste shall be segregated into containers bags at the point of generation in accordance with Schedule II prior to its storage, transportation, treatment and disposal. The containers shall be labelled according to Schedule III.

Storage

Immediate treatment and disposal are ideal procedures to be followed for disposal of biomedical waste. Untreated biomedical waste, however, can be stored for not more than 48 h. If for some reason it becomes necessary to store the waste beyond such a period, permission from the local state authority request be taken and it must be ensured that it does not adversely affect human beings and the environment.

Transportation

If a container is transported from the premises where biomedical waste is generated to any waste treatment facility outside the premises, the container shall, apart from the label prescribed in Schedule III, also carry information prescribed in Schedule IV. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, or rules there under, untreated biomedical waste shall be transported only in such vehicle as may be authorized for the purpose by the competent authority as specified by the Government.

Treatment and Disposal

Autoclave shall be used for disinfecting and treating biomedical waste. The combustible fraction of the waste may be incinerated. Deep burial is the ultimate method of disposal. The categories of biomedical wastes which may be autoclaved, incinerated or buried deep are listed in Schedule I. The standards to be followed are highlighted below.

Standards for waste autoclaving

The autoclave should be dedicated for the purpose of disinfecting and treating biomedical waste.

When operating an autoclave, medical waste shall be subjected to the following:

1. Temperature greater than 121°C and pressure of 103 kPa (gauge pressure) for an autoclave residence time of 60 min; or

2. Temperature of greater than 135°C and a pressure of 213 kPa (gauge) for an autoclave residence time of 45 min; or

3. Temperature greater than 149°C and a pressure of 359 kPa (gauge) for an autoclave residence time of 30 min.

Medical waste shall not be considered properly treated unless the time, temperature and pressure indicators indicate that the required time, temperature and pressure were reached during the autoclave process. If, for any reasons, the required temperature, pressure or residence time was not reached, the entire load of medical waste must be autoclaved again until the proper temperature, pressure and residence time were achieved.

Recording of operational parameters:

Each autoclave shall have graphic or computer recording devices which will automatically and continuously monitor and record dates, time and day, load identification number and operating parameters throughout the length of the autoclave cycle.

Standards for incineration

1. Minimum height of the stack should be 30 m above the ground level.

2. Suitably designed pollution control devices should be installed with incinerator to achieve the emission limits, mentioned in Schedule V.

3. Wastes to be incinerated shall not be chemically treated with any chlorinated disinfectants.

4. Chlorinated plastics shall not be incinerated.

5. Toxic metals in incineration ash shall be limited within the regulatory quantities.

6. Only low sulphur fuel like diesel shall be used as fuel in the incinerator.

7. Standards for deep burial

8. A pit or trench should be dug about 2 m deep. It should be half filled with waste, and then covered with lime within 50 cm of the surface, before filling the rest of the pit with soil.

9. It must be ensured that animals do not have any access, to burial sites. Covers of galvanized iron/wire meshes may be used.

10.Burial must be performed under close and dedicated supervision

11.The deep burial site should be relatively impermeable and no shallow well should be close to the site.

12.The pits should be distant from habitation, and sited so as to ensure that no contamination occurs to any surface water or ground water.

13.The area should not be prone to flooding or erosion.

14.The location of the deep burial site will be authorized by the prescribed authority.

15.The institution shall maintain a record of all pits for deep burial.