Bio medical waste management and its treatment

Abstract

Occurrence of Biomedical wastes (BMW) in India from hospitals, various chemical industries and from other surroundings is increasing day by day. BMW contains infectious and hazardous materials. It is crucial on the part of the employees to know the hazards of the biomedical waste at the work environment and make its disposition effective and in a scientific manner. Ministry of Environment & Forests regulates “Biomedical Waste Management and Handling Rules, 1998”. According to the amended rules, every hospital generating BMW needs to follow the protocol of BMW treatment facilities. There should no untreated BMW stored beyond a period of 48 hours. Effective BMW management is not only a legal necessity but also a social responsibility towards a clean and unpolluted environment. This article reviews the current perspectives on Bio Medical Waste Management and rules, conventions and the treatment technologies used worldwide. The study revealed gaps in the knowledge amongst all the organizations of the study respondents. The knowledge in relation to BMW Management including the hospital BMW protocols was more desirable among doctors, but practical facets were better in nurses and the lab technicians. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice amongst the different cadres of staff members were found to be significant statistically