User talk:Aplmanoj/sandbox

https://safeguardenvironment.com/coronavirus-infected-waste-disposal/

CPCB Guidelines for Coronavirus Infected waste Disposal India already has Biomedical Waste Management Rules-2016 for the management and safe disposal of bio-medical waste. These rules were constituted by the CPCB for the management of medical waste generated by diagnostic labs, hospitals (medical treatment) and research. It includes Human tissues, organs, body parts, Experimental animal carcasses, body parts, organs, tissues, Items contaminated with blood, body fluids like dressings, plaster casts, cotton swabs and bags containing residual or discarded blood and blood components, Expired or Discarded Medicines, Discarded linen, mattresses, bedding contaminated with blood or body fluid, chemical, Microbiological, Needles, syringes with fixed needles, needles from needle tip cutter or burner, scalpels, blades, and glassware.

These rules are stringent enough for the management & safe disposal of biomedical waste, but the Coronavirus COVID-19 is a novel virus and the life span of this virus is about to 9 days on different surfaces. The poor handling of infected waste can infect handlers and disposal agencies and from them to others. It was very important to aware the handlers and to have specific Guidelines for the disposal of Coronavirus Infected Waste.

The isolation centers, hospitals, and home quarantine are generating huge quantity infected biomedical waste. These wastes should be disposed of as per scientific manner, hence CPCB issued the guidelines. CPCB Guidelines for Coronavirus Infected waste Disposal:

For COVID-19 isolation wards

Double layered bag (two bags) should be used for the collection and disposal of COVID-19 infected from the isolation ward to provide strength and no leak. Collect and store bio-medical waste separately prior to handing over the same Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility. Use a dedicated collection bin labeled as COVID-19 to store infected waste and keep separately in a temporary storage room prior to handle over to the authorized staff of the CBWTF. It is also recommended that the biomedical waste collected in such isolation wards can also be lifted directly from the ward into the collection van of CBWTF.

The CPCB also asked that bags/containers used for collecting biomedical waste from COVID-19 wards should be labeled as COVID-19 waste to enable CBWTFs to identify the waste easily for priority treatment and immediate disposal after getting it.

The inner and outer surface of the bins/containers/trolleys used for the storage of COVID-19 infected waste should be disinfected with 1% of sodium hypochlorite solution.

The CPCB also sought to depute dedicated sanitation workers separately for Biomedical waste and general solid waste so that the waste could be collected and transferred to the temporary storage area.

Sample Collection Centers

The guidelines for the sample collection centers are the same as isolation wards, but the State Pollution Control Boards should be informed about the opening and operation of the sample collection center.

For Isolation Centers and COVID-19 Suspects

The routine waste generated from isolation camps treats as general solid waste and the same to be disposed of as per the Municipal Solid Waste Rules. If any biomedical waste generated, then it should be collected separately in the yellow bag and bins.

In the case of home quarantine or suspected patients, biomedical waste should be collected in a yellow bag and hand over to authorized waste collection authority. The Urban Local body should engage the CBWTF for the collection of the waste directly from quarantine houses or from identified collection points.

For Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF)

CBWTF report to the State Pollution Control Board/Committees about receiving the infected waste from isolation wards, quarantine camps or centers, quarantine houses, and sample collection centers. CBWTF will ensure to provide personal protective equipment, including three-layered masks, splash-proof apron, nitrile gloves, gumboots, and safety goggles. The CBWTF also ensures regular sanitation of the workers involves in infected waste handling. Use of dedicated vehicles for collection of infected waste and the vehicle should be sanitized by sodium hypo chloride or any appropriate chemical after every trip. The infected waste should be disposed of immediately after receipt.

Duties of State Pollution Control Board/Committee

State Pollution Control Board/ committees will keep up the records COVID-19 wards/quarantine centers/quarantine homes in their respective state. SPCB ensure proper collection and disposal of Biomedical waste as per the guidelines and BMW rule-2016. The authorization certificate is not needed to quarantine camps and centers, allow CBWTF to collect the waste from quarantine camps.