Ref : NTU/OHS/GUIDE/10 Date of issue : 23 September Updated by : Liew Ching Boon Next review date : 22 September 2012

Transcription

1 Office of Health and Safety Reg. No R Ref : NTU/OHS/GUIDE/10 Date of issue : 23 September 2010 Updated by : Liew Ching Boon Next review date : 22 September 2012 Title : Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Issued by : Office of Health and Safety Audience : All Staff 1 and Students Handling Waste Material 1. Aim The purpose of this SOP is to provide a reference for the proper disposal of laboratory waste. Schools should contextualise the information to regularise the disposal of waste generated. 2. Scope This guideline is applicable for all laboratories within NTU that generate chemical, biological and radioactive wastes. It does not cover typically non-hazardous (office and food) and construction waste. 3. Definitions Approved Waste Collector: Persons acting for a waste company with licences granted by the Director General of NEA to accept, transport and treat or dispose of the waste. Appointed Person refers to a person who has been appointed by the Occupier for to oversee the disposal of waste 2. Container refers to individual receptacles for liquid or solid not more than 20 litres or kilograms. For flammable liquids (Categories 1 and 2 GHS classification) should not be more than 5 litres. Combustible material refers to any material that may be broken down to smaller harmless material, such as polymers or cellulose. 1 Staff: includes faculty and staff members 2 Environmental Public Health (Toxic Industrial Waste) Regulations Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Page 1 of 8

2 Effluent refers to used and unwanted water being discharged into the sewer and has the same meaning as in Trade Effluent Regulations. Guide refers to this document. Waste refers to any unwanted materials generated from the activities of user. 4. Roles & Responsibilities 4.1 Occupier The School Chair and Head of Department, being the person having the management and control of the source of the waste, shall ensure the waste is properly stored prior to disposal (Section 4 : Singapore Standard SS 532: 2007); 4.2 Laboratory Owner appoint suitable person to establish a system of control of hazardous wastes; and ensure the wastes are properly disposed of; The Principal Investigator or the Laboratory Manager, being the primary waste generator, shall ensure all wastes are properly collected, stored and subsequently disposed of. They shall use this guide to contexualise the waste disposal generated within the laboratory. 4.3 Appointed Person 4.4 Users The Appointed Person shall keep a register the type and quantity of hazardous waste generated, the route of disposal, the date and the quantity taken consigned to the Approved Waste Collector; and the quantity held in stock. Users are to co-operate with the laboratory owner for the disposal of wastes. 5. Disposal Methodology A disposal reference matrix is shown in Appendix 1 based on the methodology described below in this section. 5.1 Effluent Only used water, free of hazardous materials (chemical, biological and radioactive), shall be discharged into sewer. Water used to wash containers after residual hazardous chemicals being displaced can be disposed of into sewer as required in Trade Effluent Regulations 3. 3 Source of Newater Plant. Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Page 2 of 8

3 6. Spills 5.2 Biological samples All human fluid and any biological cell contained in the effluent shall be autoclaved to minimise any biological impact from communicable diseases and possible discharge of altered cells. Other methods of deactivating cells (example bleach), shall be treated as a chemical waste after deactivation. All biological samples treated with antibiotics should be autoclaved due to possible environmental impact. 5.3 Hazardous and Toxic Materials All hazardous and toxic materials must be handled by approved waste collector. Combustible material will be incinerated whilst non-combustible will be treated appropriately (example acids, alkali and inorganic material). All containers of hazardous chemicals shall be disposed of by either a) approved waste collector or b) by municipal solid waste (only after double rinsing and double bagged). All toxic chemicals shall be disposed of by approved waste collector by incineration directly only. No recycling and re-conditioning of such containers is allowed. Such containers shall be double bagged and labelled for incineration after rinsing with a like solvent twice. 5.4 Non-hazardous Materials All bulky non-hazardous and non-combustible must be via landfill. 5.5 Radioactive Material All such materials shall be clearly labelled and store in a holding secured room to allow the radioactivity to be decayed to an acceptable level prior to disposal by approved radiation contractor after application with CRPNS, NEA. Absorbents used in spill response (see Guideline for Spill Handling) are to be treated as the hazardous chemical or biological material. Any paper absorbents and paper used for final residue mop up can be disposed of into the municipal waste for incineration. 7. Waste Liquid Chemicals Appendix 2 shows the requirement of classification of general liquid chemical wastes with a suggested maximum quantity for storage within each laboratory work area. This classification is based on the disposal route for each type of chemical. The maximum quantity is suggestive (open storage) is to ensure safe storage which may pose a risk of spill leading to either fire or safety and health of laboratory users. Flammable and Toxic Wastes are included as part of the guideline for the storage of flammable solvents. Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Page 3 of 8

4 It is up to the Laboratory Owner to ensure the chemicals so grouped are compatible and will not cause adverse chemical reactions. Each of the containers used should bear a standard waste liquid label (Appendix 3) and shall be tightly capped at all times. No container should be filled to more than 90% of its total designed volume. The containers shall also be place within a spill containment tray sufficient large to contain 110% of the volume of the largest container. Incompatible chemicals shall not be stored within the same spill tray compartment. 8. Prohibition The following shall not be permitted: Vapourisation of volatile chemicals in a fume cupboard; Dilution of waste with clean portable water into the sewer; Disposal of hazardous waste in municipal waste. Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Page 4 of 8

5 Phase Hazardous # Water Soluble Combustible (i 4 ) Effluent/ sink Municipal Incinerator Approved Chem WDC Approved Bio WDC Approved Radioactive Autoclaved Appendix I - Disposal Matrix Reference Description Treatment Waste Remarks Chemical, Solid No Yes Yes X X Depending on type. Solid No No Yes X Household, office and wipe paper Solid No Yes No X> Solid No No No X Metals and construction debris should be via Landfill Solid Yes No Yes X Solid Yes No No X> Solid Yes Yes No X> Solid Yes Yes Yes X Liquid No Yes Yes X Liquid No No Yes X Liquid Yes No Yes X Liquid Yes Yes Yes X Rinse with water and place rinse aqueous waste (organic or inorganic respectively) for disposal by Waste Disposal Company Liquid Yes No No X Mercury Gas Both Both Both Return to manufacturer Special disposal by WDC if above cannot be done Emergency - bleed to atmosphere. # include flammable, all categories Note: Residual Rinse liquid can be disposed of into the effluent with washing after disposal and first rinse 4 Combustible refers to any material that cannot be broken down by incineration at 700C. For chemicals it refers to inorganic chemicals such as copper sulphate that need to be specially treated and encapsulated for landfill (>) Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Page 5 of 8

6 Phase Water Soluble Combustible Effluent/ sink Municipal Incinerator Approved Chem WDC Approved Bio WDC Approved Radioactive Autoclaved Description Treatment Waste Remarks Biological Gel and Solids No Yes X Yes Yes (1,2) X X (3,4) Yes X X with antibiotics Yes X X liquids Human and animal bodily fluids except blood blood X X Radioactive ALL X X X Flush with copious amount of water during flushing. Autoclaving preferred. General Solids Yes X Encourage recycling Solids No X > Mixture liquid Yes Yes Yes Biological first Chemical X X stained with mirco-organism of Risk Group 3 and above. (X) = risk group X X Encourage recycling; Landfill Remove first by autoclave and killing micro-organism. No autoclave if high flammable solvent content. Use of 70% alcohol or bleach is also possible as alternative to autoclave but needs to be aware of alternative hazards Only final rinse aqueous waste down the effluent Store with chemicals and denatured biological till radioactivity drops below normal background Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Page 6 of 8

7 Appendix 2 - Classification of Waste in Wet Laboratories: All liquid wastes shall be segregated into the following: Waste Class Identifiers Permissible Not Permissible Containers permissible in lab work area 5 litres 20 litres 1 Organic, nonhalogenated Organic, halogenated All categories, Treated as Cat 2, including organic 1 1 acids 3 Inorganic, Aqueous solutions, No acids and alkalis Oils All blends No aqueous or organics Acids Inorganic acids No alkalis Alkalis and soluble bases Inorganic bases No acids Special HF, Br, Hg, water reactive, oxidising and peroxides, nitric acid, perchloric acid, heavy metals As small a quantity as possible Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Page 7 of 8

8 Appendix 3 - Labelling of waste packages Labelling Material: Dept/School: Laboratory/ room no. Date Contact Person: Instructions: CHECK CHEMICAL COMPATABILITY BEFORE DISPOSAL Only AMBIENT temperatures Pour slowly. Use funnel if needed. Avoid dripping. Replace cap tightly. Wipe exterior. Precautions: Use gloves. WASH Hands. Handle in well ventilated areas Use Respiratory Protection as necessary. Guideline on Disposal of Laboratory Waste Page 8 of 8