BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
” Various case studies are available to show the positive result for adopting sustainability practice . Assessment conducted by NABH includes review of BMW ( BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ) practice and also biomedical waste authorization is required.
Biomedical Waste is any waste produced during the diagnosis treatment, or immunization of human or animalsor in the production of testing of biologicals . there are types of biomedical waste ;
Biomedical waste management is crucial for ensuring the safety and health of individuals and the environment. Effective management of biomedical waste involves proper segregation, handling, treatment, and disposal. This guide provides an in-depth understanding of biomedical waste management,
Biomedical waste refers to any waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals, or in research activities pertaining to these fields. This includes:
- 1- Infectious waste – sharp object like needles, scalpels , broken glass, razors .
- 2- pathological waste- body parts , fluids, blood
- pharmaceutical waste.
- Sharps: Needles, syringes, scalpels, and other sharp instruments.
- Infectious Waste: Materials contaminated with blood and bodily fluids.
- Pathological Waste: Human tissues, organs, body parts, and animal carcasses.
- Chemical Waste: Disinfectants, solvents, and other hazardous chemicals.
- Pharmaceutical Waste: Expired, unused, and contaminated drugs and vaccines.
- General Waste: Non-hazardous waste such as paper, plastics, and food waste.
” WHO has released the guidance document for climate resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare .the ministry of health has released guidelines for resilient hospitals and also include the same in the latest indian public health standards .Above all these events like cyclone Biparjoy, heatwaves etc. are quite alarming . Thus NABH included climate action and sustainability from 5th edition ” Kochhar noted.
NABH encouraging hospitals to adopt clean practice, promoting climate action
New Delhi ; The national Accreditation board for hospital& Healthcare Providers ( NABH) will issue guidelines to introduce clean practice and promote climate action and sustainability in hospitals , said DR. Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO of the country’s main accreditation body for hospitals. Kochhar said the step is needed because hospitals are prominent source of biomedical waste and disposables
During the covid 19 epidemic . BMW was a serious issue and exposed the poor knowledge on segregation awareness in India. According to the central pollution control Boards (CPCB) annual report on biomedical waste management for 2021 ,the state pollution control boards and commitees issued 15,355 show cause notices/ direction to defaulter facilities.
Biomedical waste management refers to completely removing all the hazardous and infectious waste generated from hospital setting . waste treatment is meant to remove all the pathogenic organism by decontaminating the waste generated
Steps in Biomedical Waste Management
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Segregation
- At Source: Waste should be segregated at the point of generation using color-coded bins.
- Yellow Bin: Infectious waste
- Red Bin: Contaminated recyclable waste
- Blue/White Bin: Sharps and glassware
- Black Bin: General waste
- At Source: Waste should be segregated at the point of generation using color-coded bins.
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Collection and Transportation
- Use appropriate containers and ensure safe transportation to avoid spillage or exposure.
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Storage
- Store waste in a designated area that is secure and away from public access.
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Treatment and Disposal
- Autoclaving: Steam sterilization for infectious waste.
- Incineration: Burning waste at high temperatures.
- Chemical Treatment: Using chemicals to disinfect waste.
- Microwave Treatment: Using microwave radiation to disinfect waste.
- Landfill: Safe disposal of treated waste in designated landfill sites.
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Training and Awareness
- Educate healthcare workers on proper waste management practices.
According to CPCB compliation of data , there are 393,242 Healthcare Facilities in the nation ,around 67.8% of these are non-bedded and include clinics, labs, blood banks, dispensaries and veterinary facilities.
Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities with beds make up the remaining 32.2% . Only 156,540 HCFs have authorization from state pollution control Board ( SPCBs) or pollution control commitees Karnataka, Bihar ,& Uttar Pradesh have the most HCFs for which authorization is still pending.
PURPOSE OF BMW Management 1- To prevent the enviorment from being a reservoir and vehicle for the spread off micro organism involved in HAI . 2- To guide the handling of contaminated solid and liquid waste material .
STEPS INVOLVED IN BMW MANAGEMENT
1- SURVEY – the waste generating areas 2- SEGREGATION- and packaging 3- COLLECTION – of waste 4- TRANSPORTATION to storage area 5 – STORAGE of waste ( not beyond 48 hrs.) 6- TRANSPORTATION of waste from storage 7- TREATMENT of waste 8- DISPOSAL
SOURCES OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
MAJOR SOURCES MINOR SOURCES
1- HOSPITALS 1 – DENTAL CLINICS 2- LABS 2- COSMETICS 3 NURSING HOMES 3- HOME CARE 4- BLOOD BANKS 4- GENERAL CLINIC – 5- INSTITUTIONS
According to the Medical Waste Mangement and processing Rules ,2016 , The BMW could not be mixed with other waste at any stage while producing inside hospitals ,while transporting and should be processed seprately based on classification ” The COVID -19 pandemic has now transformed healthy societies worldwide into diseased ones ,resulting in a very high number of death .it also created one significant problem ; improper handling of the medical waste produced in the testing and treatment of the disease .in india BMW generated due to COVID -19 contributed to about 126 tonnes per day out of the 710 tonnes of waste produced daily .
The basic principle of the management of BMW is reduce , reuse, and recycle the 3Rs. out of the total amount of BMW generated, 85% is general ( non hazardous) waste ,and remaining 15% is hazardous . As BMW contains sharps and syringe ,the pathogens can enter the human body through cuts, abrasions, puncture wounds and other ways .there might also be chances of ingestion and inhalation of BMW. Which can lead to infections, some example of infection are Salmonella ,Shigella,Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Streptococcus pneumonia ,AIDS, Hepatitis A , B AND C , Helmintics infection.
This systematic review is conducted to obtain essential , up to date information on BMW for the practical application of its management . The highlight of the management of the BMW is that the : Success of BMW management depends on segregation at the point of generation.
NEED OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN HOSPITALS
- The reason due to which there is great need of ,management of hospitals waste such as; 1- Injuries from sharps leading to infection to all categories of hospitals personnel and waste handlers. 2- Nosocomial infection in patients from poor infection conttrol practice and poor mangement . 3- Risk of infection outside the hospital for waste handlers and scavengers and sometime general public living in the vicinity of hospitals . 4- Risk associated with hazardous chemicals ,drugs to person handling waste . 5- Disposable being repacked and sold by unscruplous elements without even being washed . 6- Drugs which have been disposed of being repacked and sold off to unsuspecting buyers. 7- Risk of air ,water, and soil pollution directly due to waste , or due to defective incineration emissions and ash. BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANGEMENT PROCESS 1-WASTE COLLECTION 2- SEGREGATION 3- STORAGE 4- TREATMENT 5- TRANSPORT TO FINAL DISPOSAL SITE 6- FINAL DISPOSAL COMMON BIOMEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY ( CBWTFs)
- The common biomedical wastes treatment facility ,cost the responsibilities on munltipal bodies to collect biomedical waste / treated biomedical waste and also provide sites for setting up of incinerator.
- One of india major acheivements has been to change the attitudes of the operators of health care facilities to incorporate good HCW mangement and to purchase on site waste management services from the private sactor.
- Several medical facilities can use these common biomedical waste treatment facility . TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR BMW
- INCINERATION – Double – chamber prolytic incinerator – Rotatory klins
- CHEMICAL DISINFECTION
- WET AND DRY THERMAL TREATMENT -High pressure steam – Non – burn ,dry thermal disinfection
- MICROWAVE IRRADIATION
- LAND DISPOSAL- Not to be dumped in open dumps – Sanitory landfills should be used
- INERTIZATION – Mixing with cement and other substance before disposal – Reduces the risk of migration into surface or ground water.
Why is Biomedical Waste Management Important?
Proper management of biomedical waste is vital to prevent:
- Infections: Reducing the risk of infections and the spread of diseases.
- Environmental Pollution: Preventing contamination of water, soil, and air.
- Injury: Protecting healthcare workers and the public from injuries caused by sharps and hazardous materials.
Compliance: Meeting legal and regulatory requirements to avoid penalties and sanctions.
Proper handling , Treatment and disposal of biomedical waste play a vital role in hospital infection control programme ,objectives of BMW management mainly involves preventing transmission of disease from patient to patient ,to health worker and vice versa ,to prevent injuries to health care worker. and workers in support service. while handling biomedical waste to prevent general exposure to the harmful effects of the cytotoxic ,genotoxic and chemical biomedical waste genrated in hospitals.
if properly designed and applied waste mangement can be a reletaively effecrive and an effcient compliance related practice.