Bio-Medical Waste Management | Bio-Medical Waste- Corpseed

All human activities generate waste. We all understand that such waste may be dangerous and requires safe disposal. Industrial waste, sewage and agricultural waste pollute water, air and soil. It can also be hazardous to human beings and the environment. Similarly, hospitals and other health care facilities create lots of waste, which can carry infections, particularly HIV, Hepatitis B & C and Tetanus, to the people who handle it or come in contact with it.

India produces around three million tonnes of medical wastes every year, and the amount is expected to grow at eight percent annually.

Types of Bio-medical waste

Bio-medical waste means “any solid and liquid waste including its vessel and any intermediate product, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals or research activities about it or in the production or testing of biological or in health camps.

Biomedical waste poses a hazard due to two principal reasons – the first is infectivity and other toxicity.

The bio-Medical waste consists of

• Human anatomical waste like tissues, body parts and organs
• Animal wastes produced through research from veterinary hospitals
• Microbiology and biotechnology wastes
• Waste sharps like hypodermic needles, scalpels, syringes, and broken glass
• Discarded medicines and cytotoxic drugs
• Soiled waste such as dressing, bandages, material contaminated with blood, plaster casts, tubes and catheters
• Liquid waste from any of the infected areas
• Incineration ash and another chemical waste

Personnel safety devices

The use of protective gear should be made mandatory for all personnel handling waste.

Gloves: Heavy-duty rubber gloves should be applied for waste handling by the waste retrievers. This should be a bright yellow color. After managing the waste, the gloves should be washed twice. The gloves should be cleaned after each use with carbolic soap and a disinfectant. The size should fit the operator.

Aprons, gowns, suits or other apparel: Apparel is worn to prevent clothing contamination and protect the skin. It could be produced from cloth or impermeable material such as plastic. People working in incinerator rooms should have gowns or suits composed of non-inflammable material.

Masks: Various types of masks, goggles, and face shields are worn alone or in combination to give a protective barrier. It is compulsory for personnel operating in the incinerator chamber to wear a mask covering both the nose and mouth, preferably a gas mask with filters.

Boots: Leg coverings, boots or shoe-covers provide more excellent protection to the skin when splashes or large numbers of infected waste have to be handled. The shoes should be rubber-soled and anti-skid type. They should cover the leg up to the ankle.

Cleaning devices

Brooms: The broom shall be a minimum of 1.2 m long, such that the worker requirement does not stoop to sweep. The diameter of the broom should be available to handle. The brush of the broom shall be soft or hard, depending on the type of flooring.

Dustpans: The dustpans should be used to collect the dust from the comprehensive services. They may be both plastic or enameled metal. They should be free of ribs and have smooth contours to stop dust from sticking to the surface. They should be cleaned with disinfectants and drained before every use.

Mops: Mops with long names must be applied for swabbing the floor. They shall be of both the cloth or the rubber quality. The sweeper has to be followed depending on the wear and tear. The mechanical-screw type of mop is suitable for pressing out the water.

Vacuum cleaners: Domestic vacuum cleaners or automated vacuum cleaners can be applied depending on the rooms' size.