STANDARDS
FOR TREATMENT & DISPOSAL OF BIO-MEDICAL WASTES
Overview
All
incinerators shall meet the following operating and emission standards:
-
Operating Standards
-
The
temperature of the primary chamber shall be 800±50
șC.
-
The
secondary chamber gas residence time shall be at least (one) second at 1050±50
șC ,with minimum 3% Oxygen in the stack gas.
-
Emission
Standards
S.
No.
|
Parameters |
Concentration
mg/Nm3 at (12% CO2 correction) |
1. |
Particulate
matter |
150 |
2. |
Nitrogen
Oxides |
450 |
3. |
HCl |
50 |
4. |
Minimum stack
height shall be 30 meters above ground |
|
5. |
Volatile
organic compounds in ash not be more than 0.01% |
|
Note:
Suitably
designed pollution control devices should be Installed/retrofitted with
the incinerator to achieve The above emission limits, if necessary.
-
Wastes
to be incinerated shall not be chemically treated with any
chlorinated disinfectants.
-
Chlorinated
plastics shall not be incinerated.
-
Toxic
metals in inceration ash shall be limited within The regulatory
quantities as defined under the Hazardous Waste (Management
& Handling Rules), 1989.
-
Only
low sulphur fuel like L.D.O./L.S. H.S./Diesel shall be used as fuel
in the incinerator.
The
autoclave should be dedicated for the purposes of Disinfecting and
treating bio-medical waste,
-
When operating a gravity flow autoclave, medical waste shall
be subjected
to:
-
A temperature of not less than 121oC
and pressure of 15 pounds per square inch (psi) for an autoclave
residence time of not less than 60 minutes; or
-
A temperature of non less than 135 oC and a pressure of 31
psi for an autoclave residence time of not less than 45 minutes; or
-
A temperature of not less than 149 oC and a pressure of 52
psi for an autoclave residence time of not less than 30 minutes.
-
When operating a vacuum autoclave, medical waste shall be Subjected to a
minimum of one pre-vacuum pulse to purge the Autoclave of all air. The
waste shall be subjected to the following :
-
A
temperature of not less than 121 oC and pressure of 15 psi
for an autoclave residence time of not less than 45 minutes; or
-
A
temperature of not less than 135 oC' and a pressure of 31
psi for an autoclave residence time of not less than 30 minutes;
-
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 time temperature or pressure indicators indicates that 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.
-
Each autoclave shall have graphic or
computer recording devices which will automatically and continuously
monitor & record dates, time of day, load identification number and
operating parameters throughout the entire length of the autoclave cycle.
-
Validation test
Spore
testing :
The
autoclave should completely and consistently kill the approved
biological indicator at the maximum design capacity of each autoclave
unit. Biological indicator for autoclave shall be Bacillus
stearothermophilus spores using vials or spore strips, with at least
1x10 4 spores per milliliter. Under no circumstances will an autoclave
have minimum operating parameters less than a residence time of 30
minutes, regardless of temperature and pressure, a temperature less than
121 oC or a pressure less than 15 psi.
-
Routine Test
A
chemical indicator strip/tape that changes when a certain temperature is
reached can be used to verify that a specific temperature has been
achieved. It may be necessary to use more than one strip over the waste
package at different location to ensure that the inner content of the
package has been adequately autoclaved.
The
effluent generated from the hospital should conform to the
following limits:
Parameters
|
Permissible
Limits
|
pH
|
6.5
- 9.0
|
Suspended
Solids
|
100
mg/l
|
Oil
and Grease
|
10
mg/l
|
BOD
|
30
mg/l
|
COD
|
250
mg/l
|
Bio-assay
test 90% survival of fish after 96 hours in 100% effluent these limits are
applicable to those hospitals which are either connected with sewers
without terminal sewage treatment plant or not connected to public sewers.
For discharge into public sewers with terminal facilities, the general
standards as notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 should
be applicable.
-
Microwave
treatment shall not be used for cytotoxic, hazardous or radioactive
wastes, contaminated animal carcasses, body parts and large metal
items.
-
The
microwave system shall comply with the efficacy test/ routine tests
and a performance guarantee may be provided by the supplier before
operation of the unit.
-
The
microwave should completely and consistently kill the bacteria and
other pathogenic organisms that is ensured by approved biological
indicator at the maximum design capacity of each microwave unit.
Biological indicators for microwave shall be Bacillus Subtilis spores
strips with at least 1 x 104 spores per milliliter.
-
A
pit or trench should be dug about 2 meters deep. It should be half
filled with waste, then covered with lime within 50 cm of the surface,
before filing the rest of the pit with soil.
-
It
must be ensured that animals do not have any access to burial sites.
Covers of galvanised iron/wire meshes may be used.
-
On
each occasion, when wastes are added to the pit, a layer of 10 cm of
soil shall be added to cover the wastes.
-
Burial
must be performed under close and dedicated supervision.
-
The
deep burial site should be relatively impermeable and no shallow well
should be close to the site.
-
The
pits should be distant from habitation, and sited so as to ensure that
no contamination occurs of any surface water or ground water. The area
should not be prone to flooding or erosion.
-
The
location of the deep burial site will be authorised by the prescribed
authority.
-
The
institution shall maintain a record of all pits for deep burial.
-
A time limit has been defined by Govt. of India for
installation of treatment facilities for Bio-medical waste as shown
below:
(See
Rule 5)
SCHEDULE
FOR WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES
LIKE INCINERATION
AUTOCLAVE/MICROWAVE SYSTEM
-
Hospitals and nursing homes in towns by 31st December, 1991 with
population of 30 lakhs and
above , by 31st Dec,1999 or earlier.
-
Hospitals and nursing homes in towns with population of below 30 lakhs,
-
with 500 beds and above by 31st December, 1999 or earlier
-
with 200 beds and above but less by 31st December, 2000 than 500 beds
or earlier
-
with 50 beds and above but less
then 200 beds by 31st December, 2001 or earlier
-
with less than 50 beds by 31st December, 2002 or earlier
-
All other institutions generating
bio-medical waste,
not included in A or earlier and B above by 31st Dec, 2002.
Application
for authorisation should be in Prescribed Form I
When
any accident occurs at any institution or facility or any other site where
bio-medical waste is handled or during transportation of such waste, the
authorised person shall report the accident in Form III
to the prescribed authority forthwith.
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