Medical Waste Management PDF

Penalties for Violations • West Virginia does not fine for over classification. Facilities are fining themselves by paying extra for infectious waste treatment. • There ARE penalties for putting infectious materials into the regular solid waste stream. • Fines are assessed based on the severity of...

Penalties for Violations • West Virginia does not fine for over classification. Facilities are fining themselves by paying extra for infectious waste treatment. • There ARE penalties for putting infectious materials into the regular solid waste stream. • Fines are assessed based on the severity of the instance and negligence. Fines can be up to $25,000 per day. MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT Why Environmental Compliance Matters 0 Two Major Types of Medical Waste • ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ • General solid waste Similar to domestic waste Includes paper, plastic, packaging, food prep No patient contact 75 – 90% of healthcare facility waste is hazardous Hazardous waste Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Hazardous Waste • ‒ ‒ ‒ • Hazardous Waste includes: Infectious waste (except sharps and waste from patients with highly infectious diseases) Small quantities of chemicals and pharmaceuticals Non-recyclable pressurized containers Highly Hazardous waste is a separate category Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Highly Hazardous Waste • ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ Highly Hazardous includes: Sharps Highly infectious non-sharp waste Stools from cholera patients Bodily fluids of patients with highly infectious diseases Large quantities of expired or unwanted pharmaceuticals and hazardous chemicals and radioactive wastes Genotoxic wastes (affecting genetic composition and multiple generations) Teratogenic wastes (affecting development of the exposed individual) Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 What are the Risks? • Physical injury • Disease transmission ‒ ‒ ‒ • ‒ • ‒ ‒ Cuts, punctures (e.g., from sharps) Greatest and most immediate threat HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C Water supply contamination Infectious stools or bodily fluids Chemical and toxic Pharmaceuticals Heavy metals (mercury, cadmium) Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Mandatory Environmental Review • ‒ ‒ • • ‒ ‒ Reg. 216 applies! Establishment or rehabilitation of health centers or clinics Training or technical assistance to health care providers or institutions—” health system strengthening” Environmental analysis (EA or IEE) prepared to determine nature and extent of risks EA/IEE conditions specify mitigation and monitoring criteria for medical waste management Segregation and disposal Use of personal protective equipment (PPE); training Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Effective Medical Waste Management • ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ Segregation & Disposal: Nonhazardous solid waste Treat same as “domestic waste” Reduces waste quantity, cost, risk from and to scavengers and workers Manage as close to point of generation as possible Disposal options include landfilling, incineration Do not incinerate plastic, PVC or packaging— incineration produces dioxins, furans etc. Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Effective Medical Waste Management • ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ • • Segregation & Disposal: Sharps Use rigid, puncture- and leak-proof containers; ideally red Marked as sharps Monitored Treatment and disposal options include: Autoclaved/ sterilized/ encapsulated /incinerated (with no plastic products) Properly disposed landfill, encapsulation Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Effective Medical Waste Management • ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ Segregation & Disposal: Infectious Waste Double bagged Hard exterior container (can, plastic bucket) with a lid Marked Yellow/red packaging if possible Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Wastes and Appropriate Receptacles Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Training and Planning • – – • • – – – – Proper training of medical personnel and staff Use of personal protective equipment (PPE); gloves, masks, gumboots, etc. Waste management requirements and procedures Medical Waste Management Plan Budgets and resources Appropriate management and disposal techniques and costs Transportation needs? Human capacity Environmental monitoring and reporting Special Topic: Medical Waste 0 Resources Special Topic: Medical Waste 0