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One of the most important aspects of handling, transporting, and properly disposing of hazardous waste is obviously safety. Preparation for potential emergencies needs to be in place in case something unexpected happens during transport, especially in regard to hazardous waste. One such security measure is the inclusion of emergency response numbers on the hazardous waste manifest.
Whether you’re dealing with a broken beaker, discarded slides, or a used syringe barrel, hazardous glass and plastic waste should be categorized and disposed of according to its type and use. Though such items often appear harmless, the truth can be alarming, especially in healthcare or pharmaceutical industries. The process for safe hazardous glass and plastic disposal starts with proper identification.
Be aware of the regulations regarding disposal of medications, whether they’re expired or not. Strict regulations that govern how you can dispose of expired medications are in place, both on federal and state levels. Don’t put your facility at risk due to improper or unsafe medication disposal processes. One particular area of confusion relates to shipping expired medications to a reverse distributor.
Whether you run a small rural clinic or a 500-bed hospital in Georgia, you need to abide by a number of overarching medical waste regulations. Outside state-specific regulations are those of the federal government. Your doctor’s office or hospital must follow the rules of both to maintain compliance. While requirements for medical waste management in a small doctor’s office are not the same as the scope as that of a large hospital, you should be aware of (and working with people who are aware of) potential similarities and differences.
While most colleges don’t typically consider themselves to be large generators of hazardous material, they do often generate it. Whether your college is dealing with chemicals associated with the aquatic center or fertilizer from the ground’s keepers, colleges produce hazardous waste that needs to be specially dealt with.
The differences between regulated medical waste and potentially hazardous medical wastes are not always easy to define. That’s why it is imperative that not only health professionals, but also housekeeping and janitorial staff, are aware of the difference between wastes that belong in the regulated or ‘non-regulated’ categories when it comes to disposal.
If you need a waste management company to assist with the disposal of your generated waste, it’s imperative that any employees handling that waste or preparing it for shipment are trained and qualified to handle associated paperwork. In particular, that means they must be trained and legally qualified to fill out either a hazardous waste manifest or a bill of lading depending on the contents of the particular waste shipment.
Those in the medical industry have more than likely heard of a medical waste autoclave. However, if you’re not directly involved in its use, you may not realize exactly what type/s of medical waste can be disposed of in an autoclave and what can’t. In fact, knowing about this process of medical waste disposal is essential in order to maintain compliance with local, state, and federal laws regarding medical waste management.
Do your staff and employees know how to identify hazardous solid waste? Do they know the difference between hazardous waste characteristics? Are they aware that hazardous solid waste that is corrosive, flammable, or potentially toxic poses a serious threat to the health and safety of humans, animals, and the environment?
Not all waste is created equal, so how can you tell when your waste falls under regulations of federal and state laws for handling, shipping, and disposal processes?
Hazardous waste removal processes involve numerous steps. One of the most crucial is how to select a proper and compliant hazardous waste container. This is not a one-size-fits-all process, as the right container for the job depends on factors that include the type of waste, its weight or volume, and its components.
