Nzema Gold Mine

Environmental Management System

(Operational Procedure)

Document Title:

PROCEDURE FOR MEDICAL WASTE

MANAGEMENT

Document No

Proc ENV 06

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Prepared By

Collins Obeng Dapaah

Environmental Officer

Reviewed By

George Owusu Ansah

Environmental Manager

Approved By

Cornelius Lourens

General Manager

Revision: 1

Issue Date:12-06-12

Next Review/Revision Date: 06-2013

Nzema Gold Mine

Environmenta
l

Waste Management
1.

Procedure for Medical

Proc. ENV 06

PURPOSE

The clinic generates waste materials: normal trash (office, packaging, etc), expired
pharmaceuticals, biohazard wastes (dressings, patient cleaning wastes, body fluids, etc.) and
sharps (syringes, scalpel blades, etc.).

2.

SCOPE

The procedure applies to the handling and disposal of waste materials generated at the medical
facility at Nzema Gold Mine.
3.

ABBREVIATIONS/DEFINITIONS

NGM: Nzema Gold Mine

OHS: Occupational Health and Safety

4.

METHOD AND RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1.

Responsibilities

The OHS Department is responsible for waste management at the clinic, for providing the
equipment and resources to collect, store and manage the wastes at the clinic and for ensuring
that responsible personnel understand and follow the procedures.
The Clinic management is responsible for collection of medical wastes (expired pharmaceuticals,
biohazards and sharps from the clinic for final disposal at an approved facility.
Environmental Department is responsible for the collection of general waste (normal trash) for
disposal
4.2.

Waste Types and Management at the Clinic

a. Normal trash should be separated from any expired drugs, biohazard waste or sharps, and
may be disposed in the normal (green) trash wheeled bin which is cleared by a waste
contractor to be disposed in the normal solid waste landfill.
b. Pharmaceuticals are managed to use up any drugs that are becoming close to the expiry
dates. Any expired or spoiled pharmaceuticals should be collected in secure, marked
containers for safe storage until sufficient quantities are available for disposal.
Any biohazard wastes are to be collected in containers and bags clearly marked and labeled
BIOHAZARD WASTE. The biohazard wastes will be stored in secured and marked containers
for safe storage until sufficient quantities are generated for disposal.

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Nzema Gold Mine

Environmenta
l

Waste Management

Procedure for Medical

Proc. ENV 06

c. All used sharps should be placed immediately after using into specially designed and
labeled sharps containers. The containers should be stored in the same secure manner
and location as the other BIOHAZARD WASTE, until ready for disposal.
4.3.

Medical Waste Disposal

a. Expired pharmaceuticals and sharps waste should be disposed fortnightly offsite. The
responsible medical staff must apply for a waybill from Environmental Department before
transporting offsite.
b. For biohazard wastes generated, the responsible person at the clinic should fill in the form
(Proc. ENV 06_A01), and have it approved by the responsible person in the Environmental
(Manager or rep) Departments before incinerating.
c.

5.

When transporting offsite precautions are to be taken to ensure that the transport is
secured and that all of the pharmaceutical, biohazard and sharps wastes are properly
disposed.

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

The following document is referenced in association with this procedure:

6.

Proc SW 08 Waste Management Procedure

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Proc ENV 06_ A01 Medical Waste Disposal Permit (form)

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