BIOMEDICAL WASTE

MANAGEMENT

BY
K.PRAVEENA
LECTURER
 DEFINITION:

 Biomedical waste is defined as waste that is generated during

the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings
and are contaminated with patients body fluids ( such as
syringes , needles, ampules, organs and body parts ,
placenta, dressings, disposables plastics and microbiological
wastes)
 Proper disposable of hospital waste is of paramount because
of its infectious and hazardous characteristics.
 Classification of waste:

 General waste- general sweeping, kitchen waste,

packing material paper pieces, waste from laundry,
kitchen, wards and laboratory
 Infectious waste: Human anatomical waste ( human
tissue organ and body parts )
 Microbiology and micro technology waste ( waste from
lab cultures, stocks or specimens of micro organisms live
or attenuated vaccines, human and animal cell culture
used in research)
 Cont…

 Solid waste – items contaminated with blood and body fluids

including cotton, dressing, soiled plaster casts, linen ,
beddings, other materials contaminated
Sharps – hypodermic needles , stitching needles , needles
attached with tubing.
Scalpel blades, razors, nails , etc
Broken glass materials, syringes, blood vials, edges of slides and
cover slips in contact with infectious agents
Cont…

Cytotoxic waste: waste containing substances with

genotoxic properties ,
e.g. waste containing cytostatic drugs ( often used in
cancer therapy) genotoxic chemicals
Chemical waste : waste containing chemical
substances e.g laboratory reagents ; film developer;
disinfectants that are expired or no longer needed ;
solvents. wastes with high content of heavy metal
batteries; broken thermometers ; blood pressure
gauges etc .
Cont…
 Radioactive waste – waste containing radioactive
substances e.g. unused liquids from radiotherapy
or laboratory research; contaminated glassware,
packages or absorbent paper ;urine and excreta
from patients
 Pharmaceuticals waste – waste containing
pharmaceuticals e.g pharmaceuticals that are
expired or no longer needed items contaminated
pharmaceuticals ( bottles, boxes)
Need to biomedical waste management
in hospitals
 The reasons due to which there is great need of management of hospitals
waste such as
 Injuries from sharps leading to infection to all categories of hospital
personnel and waste handler
 Nosocomial infections in patients from poor infection control practices and
poor waste management
 Risk of infection outside hospital for waste handlers and scavengers and at
time general public living in the vicinity of hospitals
 Risk associated with hazardous chemicals , drugs to persons handling
wastes at all levels
Cont…

 Disposable being repacked and sold by unscrupulous

elements without even being washed
 Drugs which have been disposed of, being repacked and
sold off to unsuspecting buyers
 Risk of air , water and soil pollution directly due to waste
or due to defective incineration emission ash.
Biomedical waste management process

There is a big network of health care institution in india.

The hospital waste like body parts, organs, tissues, blood and body
fluids along with solid linen , cotton , bandage and plaster casts
from infected and contaminated areas are essential to be
properly collected, segregated, stored, transported , treated and
disposed off in safe manner to prevent nosocomial or hospital
acquired infection
Cont…
 Waste collection
 Segregation
 Transportation and storage
 Treatment and disposal
 Transport to final disposal site
 Final disposal
Collection of biomedical waste
 Collection of biomedical waste should be done as per
biomedical waste (management and handling) rules. At
ordinary room temperature the collected waste should not
be stored for more than 24 hours
 Segregation of waste : segregation is the essence of
waste management and should be done at the source of
generation of bio – medical waste, e.g. all patient activity
areas, diagnostic services areas, operation theaters,
labour rooms and treatment rooms , etc.
Cont…
 Theresponsibility of segregation should be with
the generator of biomedical waste, i.e. doctors ,
nurses, etc
 Thebiomedical waste should be segregated as per
categories mentioned in the rules
Transportation
 Within hospital , waste routes must be designated to avoid
the passage of waste through patient care areas.
 Treatment of hospital waste – general waste 85% of the
waste generated in the hospital belong to this category
Biomedical waste – 15 % of hospital waste
 Deep burial
 Autoclave and microwave treatment
 Shredding
 Secured landfill
 Incineration
Safety measures :
 All the generators of biomedical waste should adopt universal
precautions and appropriate safety measures while doing
therapeutic and diagnostic activities and also while handling the
biomedical waste.it should be ensured that:
 Drivers , collectors and other handlers are aware of the nature
and risk of waste
 Written instructions , provided regarding the procedures to be
adopted in the event of spillage/ accidents
 Protective gears provided and instructions regarding their use are
given.
 Workers are protected by vaccination against tetanus and
hepatitis B
Training :
 Each and every hospital must have well planned
awareness and training programme for all category of
personnel including administrators ( medical, paramedical
and administrative)
 All the medical professionals must be made aware of
biomedical waste management and handling rules 1998
 To institute awards for safe hospital waste management
and universal precaution practice
 Training should be conducted to all categories of staff in
appropriate language/ medium in an acceptable manner
Management and administration
 Heads of each hospital will have to take authorization for
generation of waste from appropriate authorities as
notified by the concern state / U.T. Government, well in
time and to renewed as per time schedule laid down in
the rules.
Measures for waste minimization
 As far as possible , purchase of reusable items made of
glass and metal should be encouraged .select non PVC
plastic items.
Benefits of biomedical waste management
 Clean and healthier surroundings
 Reduction in the incidence of hospital acquired and
general infections
 Reduction in the cost of infection control within the
hospital
 Reduction in the possibility of disease and death due to
reuse and repackaging of infectious disposables
 Low incidence of community and occupational health
hazards
 Reduction in the cost of waste management and
generation of revenue through appropriate treatment and
disposal of waste
 Improved image of the health care establishment and
increase the quality of life
Methods of waste treatment:
 Incineration
 Autoclaving
 Microwaving
 Hydroclaving
 Shredder
 Sharp pit / encapsulation