Approaches for Waste Management in Civil Engineering Laboratory in Accordance with Enhancement of Safety Practice of Research Laboratory (ESPReL) : Case Study of Faculty of Engineering Nakhon Phanom University

Abstract

Study and research activities in civil engineering laboratory causes mostly construction material wastes which must be managed for orderliness safety and waste minimization. Waste management system survey in accordance with Enhancement of Safety Practice of Research Laboratory (ESPReL) was applied to evaluate the waste management system in civil engineering laboratory of Faculty of Engineering Nakhon Phanom University. The wastes found in laboratories were ruins of concrete, brick, cement, iron, asphalt, wood and chemical bottles. Waste data management, waste collection, waste minimization and waste treatment and disposal were evaluated. The study mostly found no waste management according to the ESPReL. However, some issues were in line with the practice such as the appearance of exact waste storage area. The waste management approaches were proposed consistent to ESPReL and the individual practice factors of the sample laboratories. Some examples of good management can be made into a practice guide on waste inspection and management. The useful information can be applied for waste management in other civil
engineering laboratories or other similar laboratories.