BIO-MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

AND HANDLING RULES-1989

Presented by
N.Aravinth
BIO-MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AND
HANDLING RULES-1989
9. PRESCRIBED AUTHORITY
1. SHORT TITLE AND
COMMENCEMENT 10. PROCEDURE FOR
AUTHORISATION
2. APPLICATION
11. ADVISORY COMMITTEE
3. DEFINITIONS
12. ANNUAL REPORT
4. DUTIES OF THE OCCUPIER
13. MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS
5. DUTIES OF THE OPERATOR
14. ACCIDENT REPORTING
6. RESPOSIBILITIES OF
AUTHORITIES 15. APPEAL
7. TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL 16. COMMON DISPOSAL
/INCINERATION SITES
8. SEGREGATION, PACKAGING,
TRANSPORTATION AND 17. LIABILITY OF THE OCCUPIER,
STORAGE OPERATOR OF A FACILITY
NEED OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE
MANAGEMENT AND HANDLING

Biomedical wastes, if not handled in a proper way, is a

potent source of diseases, like AIDS, Tuberculosis,
Hepatitis and other bacterial diseases.
Nosocomial infections in patients from poor infection
control practices and poor waste management.
Drugs & Syringes which have been disposed of, being
repacked and sold off to unsuspecting buyers.
3. DEFINITIONS:
"Bio-medical waste" means any waste, which is generated during the
diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals or in
research activities & including categories mentioned in Schedule I of
these rules;
"Bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility" means any facility
wherein treatment, disposal of bio-medical waste is carried out;
"Occupier" means a person having administrative control over the
institution and the premises generating biomedical waste;
"Operator of a bio-medical waste treatment facility" means a person
who controls or operates a facility handling the bio-medical waste;
4. DUTIES OF THE OCCUPIER:
It shall be the duty of every occupier-
1. To take all steps to ensure that BMW is handled without any adverse
effect to human health & environment.
2. To provide training for all its health care workers.
3. To immunize all its health care workers.
4. To ensure segregation of BMW at the point of generation.
5. To ensure occupational safety of all its heath care workers by providing
personal protective equipments.
6. To conduct health care check-up annually for all its workers & maintain
the records for the same.
7. To install necessary equipments & regular supply of materials required
for handling BMW.
4. DUTIES OF THE OCCUPIER: cont..
8. To maintain & update everyday BMW management register according to
quantity, categories & final mode of disposal as specified in SCHEDULE-1.
9. To develop a system of reporting of unintended accidents like sharp injuries,
mercury spills, fire hazards which are likely to occur during BMW handling. Such
records shall be maintained and reported in Form III along with annual report and
should indicate even the nil report.
10. To inform the prescribed authority immediately in case the operator of a
facility does not collect the BMW within the intended time.
11. To establish a BMW management cell or unit if the facility has more than 30
beds. Such unit or cell shall meet once in six months & the records of minutes of
such meetings shall be submitted along with the annual report to the prescribed
authority.
5. DUTIES OF THE OPERATOR:
1. To take all necessary steps to ensure that the BMW collected from
the occupier is transported, handled, stored, treated & disposed of
without any adverse effect to human health & environment.
2. To ensure timely collection of BMW from the health care facilities.
3. To inform the prescribed authority immediately regarding the health
care establishments/facilities, which are not handling over the
segregated BMW.
4. To provide training of all its workers.
5. To undertake appropriate pre-placement & periodic medical
examination and immunize all its workers and records for the same.
6. To ensure occupational safety by providing protective equipment's.
6. RESPOSIBILITIES OF AUTHORITIES

The authority specified in column 2 of the Schedule- VI shall

perform the duties as specified in column 3 of the said Schedule
as per the provisions of these Rules.
7. TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL:
Bio-medical waste shall be treated and disposed of in accordance with
Schedule I, and in compliance with the standards prescribed in Schedule
V.
Any person including an occupier/operator of a BMW treatment facility
intends to promote new technologies for treatment of BMW shall
approach the Central Government/Central Pollution Control board for
prior approval.
Every occupier shall either set up his own BMW treatment equipment,
prior to commencement of its operation or ensure treatment of BMW
through an authorised common BMW treatment facility.
Every operator of a common BMW treatment facility shall set up BMW
treatment equipments, prior to commencement of its operation.
8. SEGREGATION, PACKAGING,
TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE
(1) Untreated BMW shall not be mixed with other wastes.
(2) Bio-medical waste shall be segregated into containers/bags at the point of
generation in accordance with Schedule II.
(3) The containers shall be labelled according to Schedule III.
(4) The transporter shall transport the BMW from the premises of an occupier
to any off-site BMW treatment facility only with label as prescribed in
schedule III along with the necessary information prescribed in Schedule IV.
(5) Untreated BMW shall be transported only in specific vehicle authorised by
the competent authority.
(6) No untreated BMW of categories 1,2,3&6 shall be kept stored beyond a
period of 48 hours. If for any reason it becomes necessary to store the waste
beyond such period, the authorised person must take permission of the
prescribed authority .
14. ACCIDENT REPORTING:

When any accident occurs at any institution or facility or any

other site where biomedical waste is handled or during
transportation of such waste, the authorized person shall report
the accident in Form-III to the prescribed authority forthwith.
16. COMMON DISPOSAL /INCINERATION SITES:

The Municipal Corporation, Municipal Boards, Urban or Local

Bodies, shall be responsible for providing suitable common
disposal/incineration sites for the biomedical wastes generated in
the area under their jurisdiction.
SCHEDULE-1
SCHEDULE-5

STANDARDS FOR TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF BIO-MEDICAL WASTES

STANDARDS FOR INCINERATORS
STANDARDS FOR WASTE AUTOCLAVING
STANDARDS FOR LIQUID WASTE
STANDARDS FOR MICROWAVING
STANDARDS FOR DEEP BURIAL
SCHEDULE-6
List of authorities and the corresponding duties
1) Ministry of Environment & forests
2) Central/State Ministry of Health Family Welfare, Veterinary and
Animal Husbandry
3) Ministry of Defense
4) Central Pollution Control Board
5) State Gov./Union Territory Gov./Administration
6) State Pollution Control Boards/Committees
7) Local bodies such as Gram Panchayat, Municipalities
 SCHEDULE V
STANDARDS FOR TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF
BIO-MEDICAL
WASTES
STANDARDS FOR INCINERATORS

a) Operating Standards
1. Combustion efficiency (CE) shall be at least 99.00%.
2. The Combustion efficiency is computed as follows:
C.E. = (%C02 x 100)/ (%C02 + %CO)
 b) Emission Standards

Parameters Concentration mg/Nm3 at (12% CO2 correction) (1)

Particulate matter 150
(2) Nitrogen Oxides 450
(3) HCI 50
(4) Minimum stack height shall be 30 m above ground
(5) Volatile organic compounds in ash shall not be more than 0.01%
STANDARDS FOR WASTE AUTOCLAVING
1)When operating a gravity flow autoclave, medical waste shall be subjected to :
(i) a temperature not less than 121 C' and pressure of 15 pounds per square
inch (psi) for an autoclave residence time of not less than 60 minutes; or
(ii) a temperature not less than 135 C and a pressure of 31 psi for an
autoclave residence time of not less than 45 minutes; or
(iii) a temperature not less than 149 C and a pressure of 52 psi for an
autoclave residence time of not less than 30 minutes.
2) When operating a vacuum autoclave, medical waste shall be subjected to :
(i) a temperature not less than 121 C and pressure of 15 psi per an autoclave
residence time of not less than 45 minutes; or
(ii) a temperature not less than 135 C and a pressure of 31 psi for an
autoclave residence time of not less than 30 minutes
STANDARD FOR LIQUID WASTE

The effluent generated from the hospital should conform to the following
limits:

PARAMETERS PERMISSIBLE LIMITS PH

6.3-9.0 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

The general standards as notified under the Environment (Protection)

Act,1986
STANDARDS OF MICROWAVING
It shall not be used for cytotoxic, hazardous or radioactive
wastes, contaminated animal car casses, body parts and
large metal items
The microwave system shall comply with the efficiency
test and a performance guarantee may be provided by the
supplier before operation of the limit.
The microwave should completely and consistently kill the
bacteria and other pathogenic organisms, approved
by maximum design capacity of each microwave unit
STANDARDS FOR DEEP BURIAL

The waste should he dug about 2 meters deep.

It must be ensured that animals do not have any access to
burial sites.
Burial must be performed under close and dedicated
supervision
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.