National Norms and Standards relating to Environmental Health

Dealing with and reporting of incidents and accidents. Interpretation of material safety data sheetsRecord of such trainings need to be kept for a period of at least five yearsd) ImmunizationThe facility’s health and safety policy must make provision for appropriate immunization in the event ofaccidental needle stick injuries and other accidents involving the handling of HCRW to prevent the spreadof any communicable disease.SECTION 12: COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONa) Waste management awareness and education campaigns is critical as part of community education,therefore EHPs should conduct waste management awareness raising, education and promotion incommunities on “ the management of HCRW at a household level and general waste management”as part of compliance inspections and health education activities.b) Each campaign should have an action plan, detailing the campaign date, venue, target group,objectives of the campaign, campaign activities, stakeholders involved, education materials to beused, and costs implications.c) The campaign shall also have a feedback report detailing all aspects included in the action plan aswell as campaign impact and recommendations.d) Such campaigns shall target formal and informal recyclers, health care facilities, business owners andthe general public, especially schools.e) These campaigns shall also be done jointly with relevant internal and external stakeholders; and thepublic.SECTION 13: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSPECTIONS1. EHPs should monitor waste management activities (waste minimization, separation, collections,storage, transportation and disposal), at different residential, business, industrial, places of care andhealth care facilities at all times during routine or follow inspections as planned and as prescribed inthe norms and standards for health surveillance of the premises.2. General and hazardous landfill sites should be inspected at least twice per year; and during preoperation, during closer and after closer.3. All required permits, waste management plans; waste information records and environmental impactassessment reports should be inspected.4. Site plans of premises generating business, industrial and hazardous, including health care riskwaste, should be evaluated for conformances to relevant legislation specifying requirements for wastestorage areas.5. An EHP should monitor the collection and management of waste during events (festivals, sports, etc)throughout the period of the particular event.6. Condemned foodstuffs must be collected, transported and disposed of in the presence of an EHP,who shall monitor all processes to ensure that condemned waste is effectively managed untildisposal.7. EHPs should keep records of inspections, findings and recommendations of all inspections conductedon premises generating waste, particularly hazardous, and health care risk waste.8. An inventory of premises generating and handling hazardous and HCRW must be kept by EH.9. Inspection report with recommendations should be provided to the person in charge of the premisesafter conducting inspection.10. Routine inspection programmes for closed landfill sites should be established and implemented by anEHP.11. Inspection checklist as per Annexure C shall be completed for all waste management inspectionsSECTION 14: INTERSECTORAL COLLABORATIONEnvironmental Health Practitioners need to establish strong relationships, with various stakeholders, suchas Department of Transport, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labour, Department of Mineralsand Energy, private sector waste companies, in the waste industry in order to win the battle against poormanagement of waste in South Africa.DOH. Norms and standards for environmental health in South Africa Feb 2013 132