The Faculty of Science at the Islamic University, in partnership with the General Administration of Inspection and Labor Protection at the Ministry of Labor and with the sponsorship of the Center for Democracy and Workers’ Rights, held a seminar entitled: “Occupational Safety and Health in Medical Waste Management,” under the umbrella of the “National Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.”
The seminar was attended by Dr. Ziad Abu Hein, Director of the Crisis and Disaster Management Center at the university; Dr. Talaat Abu Maileq, representative of the Ministry of Labor; and Mr. Ali Al-Jerjawi, representative of the Center for Democracy and Workers’ Rights; in addition to relevant representatives from ministries, agencies, centers, and municipalities; and a group of interested individuals as well as a gathering of students.
In his speech at the opening session, Dr. Abu Hein explained that medical waste is likely to be infectious or biodegradable. This waste includes waste resulting from a medical facility or laboratory, and from centers and laboratories that contain biomolecules or organic organisms that are not allowed to be released to the environment, whether in solid, liquid, or gaseous status. He pointed to the interest of the Palestinian Authority, since its arrival, in the issue of medical waste, and a law was issued to that effect.
Dr. Abu Maileq stressed the need to follow health procedures for waste management to preserve the safety of all workers and the environment and protect it from pollution, explaining the danger of medical waste because it contains the causes of infection, genetic poisoning, and chemical poisoning, adding, “Therefore, we, as institutions, must pay attention to the sources of this danger and establish appropriate mechanisms to avoid it.”
Mr. Al-Jerjawi clarified the role of the center and the project that is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and other ministries, in reducing work injuries by stressing the necessity of cooperation and intensifying efforts with all institutions and municipalities on the subject of occupational safety.
