Track: Risk Assessment and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is concerned with evaluating and assessing the COVID-19 waste management plan to develop a generalized waste management framework that can be adopted with future pandemics based on the UAE approach. Some existing models for waste management across different countries across the globe and the extent to which they could be applied in defined areas are discussed. An integrated framework that can serve as a basis for the development of a waste management system is proposed. Applicability, benefits, challenges, and limitations of the system are all outlined with a narrower scope focusing on the different approaches adopted by several Emirates in the UAE. An in-depth analysis of the current waste management methods, as well as the focus on disposing of medical waste contaminated with COVID-19. A comprehensive COVID-19 UAE-based framework is proposed alongside a generalized framework that can be implemented in future pandemics that are associated with a pathogen carrier.