Mine Rescue and Safety

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Hazardous waste can be defined as: The waste or combination of waste that pose (cause) a substantial (large) hazard to human health or living organism because such waste is not degradable (decomposed) or persistence (natural) in nature can be biological magnified (enlarged) can be lethal (dangerous) may cause or tend to cause detrimental (harmful) cumulative (increasing) effects.

Identification of hazardous waste

Identification of hazardous waste is the process of determining whether a waste is hazardous or not? Is the waste specifically excluded from the EPA regulations? Preliminary decision model for screening and selecting hazardous compound are present in the standards of EPA. Hazardous waste criteria used in the screening model related to only the intrinsic (natural) hazardous of waste on uncontrolled release. The final steps in the hazardous waste identification process determine whether a waste actually poses a sufficient chemical or physical hazard.

CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

There are many compounds and product combination that fit within the board definition of hazardous waste. The group of waste is considered in five general categories; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Radioactive substance Chemical Biological waste Flammable waste Explosives

1. RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCE Substances that emit ionization radiation are defined as being radioactive. Such substances are hazardous because prolonged (extended) exposure to radiation often results in damage to living organisms. Radioactive substances are of special concern because they persist over long period of time.

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Mine Rescue and Safety

2. CHEMICALS Most hazardous chemical waste can be classified into four groups a) b) c) d) Synthetic organics In organic metals, salt, acid and bases Flammables Explosives

3. BIOLOGICAL WASTE Biological waste hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans. This hazardous agent is biological in nature and has the capacity to produce deleterious (harmful) effects upon biological organisms. The principle source of hazardous biological waste is hospitals and biological research facilities. Include in this group of solid waste are evil tissues taking during surgical procedure and contaminated materials such as hypodermic needles and out dated drugs. 4. FLAMMABLE WASTES Most flammable hazardous waste is also identified as hazardous chemical waste. This dual grouping is necessary because of the high potential hazard storing, collecting and disposing of inflammable wastes. This waste may be in liquid. 5. EXPLOSIVES Explosive hazardous waste is ordinance manufacturing. Like flammable waste, explosive waste also has a high potential for hazardous in storage, collection and disposal. These wastes may exist in solids, liquid or gaseous state.

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