Measures to Improve OSH in the E-Waste Recycling Units Dr HG Sadhu, Scientist F National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad Roundtable Meeting on Occupational Safety Toxics Link New Delhi, 14 April, 2015
National Institute of Occupational Health Meghaninagar Ahmedabad 380 016 OBJECTIVES Prevention Preservation Promotion Workers / Community Health Work / Community Environment Research Activities Education and Training Service
E-Waste: Dangers Component CRT LCD Fluorescent lamp Cooling system Others Hazardous Materials Pb, As, Hg, P Hg Hg, P, flame retardants (FR) Ozone depleting substance (ODS) Se, AsO 3, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Br, Ba 3
E-Waste: Effects Toxin Hg Pb Humans Impairment of neurological development in foetus and small children; tremours, emotional changes, insomnia, headache, kidney effects respiratory failures, death Damage to brain and nervous system, slow growth in children, hearing problems, behavioural changes, physical disorders 4
E-Waste: Effects Toxin Cr BFR Humans Asthmatic bronchitis, skin irritation, ulceration, respiratory irritation, perforated eardrums, Kidney damage, pulmonary congestion and oedema, epigastric pain, erosion and discolouration of the teeth May increase cancer risk to digestive and lymph systems, endocrine disorder 5
E-Waste: Effects Soil Toxic leachates: Hg, Cd, Pb, P Uncontrolled fire risk toxic fumes Biologically non-degradable: Cd, HG, BFR There are also hazardous effects on livestock, ecology, etc. 6
The Problem E-Waste poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. Rapid technological changes Increased electronics purchase More E-Waste More Hazardous materials in landfills Increasing human health risks 7
Stakeholders Almost everyone is a stakeholder Recyclers Manufacturers Suppliers Resellers E-Waste End-users Aggregators Collectors 8
Methods Recycle Landfill Incineration Recovery And Reuse E-waste Disposal
Recycling scenario in India E-waste recycling is presently concentrated in the informal (unorganized) sector No organized collection system prevails Operations are mostly illegal Processes are highly polluting Recycling operations engage in: dismantling sale of dismantled parts valuable resource recovery export of processed waste for precious metal recovery 10
Concerns: Informal Recycling High-risk backyard operation Non- efficient and Non-environmentally sound technologies Occupational and environmental hazards Loss of resources due to inefficient processes Impacts vulnerable social groups- Women, children and mmigrant labourers 11
Recycling and reprocessing units in India Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh M/s Ramky E-waste Recycling Facility (Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd.) Attero Electronic Asset Management Company. Unit: Roorkee. Owner: IIT Delhi Passout. M/s E-R3 Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Peenya Bangalore 560 058 12
Definition : Land Filling Land fill is also known as dump, is a site for the disposal of waste a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment. Disadvantages : Metals like mercury, cadmium, lead leach into the soil and ground water make them polluted Require large amount of space. It is not a environmentally sound treatment
Incineration Definition : It is a controlled and complete combustion process, in which the waste material is burned in specially designed incinerator at a high temperature (900 1000 0 c)
Legislations Governing E-Waste The hazardous waste (management and handling ) rules, 1998 as amended in 2008 for Toxic content registration mandatory for recyclers Municipal Solid Waste Management & Handling Rules for non-toxic content Basel convention for regulating transboundary movement Foreign Trade policy restricts import of second-hand computers and does not permit import of e-waste Guidelines by Central Pollution Control Board ( 2008)
E-Waste Guidelines The guidelines notified in April 2008 - basic guidance document identifying and recognizing fundamental principles: Producer Responsibility RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances) Best practices Insight into technologies for various levels of recycling The guidelines explicitly mention the need for a separate legislation for implementing Producer Responsibility 16
1 st Level E-waste Treatment [MoEF, Guidelines, 2008] Flow Chart of 1 st Level Treatment
2 nd Level E-waste Treatment [MoEF Guidelines, 2008] Flow Chart of 2nd Level Treatment
3 rd Level E-waste Treatment [MoEF Guidelines, 2008] E-waste Cyclone Plastic Pre- comminuting for a rough liberation Magnetic & eddy current separation of ferrous and nonferrous metals Liberation of Non Ferrous Metals Classifying for unproved separation Subsequent comminution (Pulverization) of unliberated materials Electrostatic separation of metal fraction Dust Extraction Optional gravity or eddy current separation of coarse metal fraction Separation of Fe and Non- Fe (Cu, Al, Au, Ag and other precious metal) Separation of Cu, Al, Au, Ag and other precious metal Fractions (Cu, Al, Au, Ag and other precious metal) Flow Chart of Non-CRT Based E-waste Treatment [MoEF, Guidelines, 2008]
Treatment 1) Removal from exposure 2) No specific treatment 3) Prevention
Treatment - Heavy Metals 1) Removal from exposure 2) Chelating agents Ca or Na EDTA 3 gm in 600 ml of 5% glucose IV for 3 4 days D Penicillamine: 20 mg/kg body weight
Diagnosis 1) High suspision 2) Occupational history 3) Relevant laboratory investigations
Periodic Medical Examination 1) Early detection
Steps to Protect Workers Anticipate potential hazards Recognize potential hazards Evaluate exposure and risk Control exposure and risk (Not just for health hazards)
Hierarchy of Controls 1. Engineering controls: Remove hazard Process change, Chemical substitution Ventilation, Shielding, Guarding Requires little or no employee action 2. Administrative controls: Manage exposure Worker rotation, Procedures Training Controlled access areas Requires employee action
Hierarchy of Controls 3. Personal protective equipment (PPE) Respirators, Gloves, Boots, Clothing Fall protection equipment, Hard hats Requires individual employee action Last line of defense, behind engineering and administrative controls
Recycling Technologies The state-of-the-art recycling of e-waste comprises three steps: Detoxication Shredding Refining
Community Exposure
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