BIO MEDICAL WAST MANAGEMENT (BMW)
INTRODUCTION
Biomedical or hospital waste refers to any
waste generated while providing healthcare, performing research &
undertaking investigations or related procedures on human beings or animals in
hospitals, clinics, laboratories or similar establishments.
Potential hazards : Biomedical waste is far
more dangerous & offensive than domestic waste because.
·
It contains infectious or other
hazardous materials that may injure, infect or otherwise harm patients,
their visitors, hospital personnel &
the public at large in several ways.
·
It may contain sharps such as
needle or broken glass, that can cause injury & infection, or harmful
chemicals & radioactive materials.
·
If kept untreated, it undergous
fermentation & animals, rendering the site of generation and storage filthy
and unhygienic.
·
It can attract rag pickers, who
repack disposables or drugs and sell them.
Since B.M.W can be serious pollutants of
soil,water & air,unless carefully managed,government across the world have been forced to introduce
legal restraints in this area. The Goverments of India has promulgated the
Medical wast (management & Handling) Rules, 1998, Under which thew persons
who are in charge of medical & other institutions where such wastes are
generated (called occupiers) are held legally responsible for maintaining the
conditions prescribed in the rules, which have come into effect from 1 january
2003.
Types of B.M.W
The amount of waste generated under Indian
conditions has been estimated as 1 to 2 kg per bed per day and is composed of
different types of waste, of which , on an average about 85 per cent is
harmless and only 15 per cent is hazardous, which includes infectious waste.
