Evaluation of Occupational Health and Safety and Process Risk Assessment of the Medical WasteIncinerator Located in Lahore

Abstract

Rapid increase in the population, economic boom, urbanization, industrial growth, and changing socioeconomic conditions have caused an increase in the medical waste (MW) generation. MW disposal is a significant concern, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. Incineration is the viable option for treating such waste in developing countries. A detailed Process Risk Assessment was carried out at the Lahore incinerator plant to evaluate the health and safety hazards associated with medical waste incineration and gauge its impact on the environment. Twenty of the occupational hazards and risks identified at each of the processes occurring at the plant were within the tolerable range and seven were within the acceptable range due to reasonable existing controls.