Top Medical Waste Removal Mistakes
Is your facility guilty of these common medical waste removal mistakes? Laboratories, hospitals, private practice offices, dental facilities, and even veterinary offices are all places that produce medical waste, and they are required by federal, state, and even local laws, to create a medical waste removal plan.
Despite the abundance of information on proper disposal and the laws that back this up, there are still some common mistakes that people make with medical waste removal. Not only is this a compliance issue, it’s an environmental and health issue that can be costly and detrimental if ignored.
What are some of the top medical waste removal mistakes?
Inconsistent training of staff
A compliant, safe, and efficient medical waste removal program is only as strong as the people who implement and follow it. One of the top mistakes medical waste generators make is not training staff consistently. It is imperative that facilities employ the use of the resources available, not only because it’s the law, but a streamlined program mitigates risk. Agencies like the EPA and OSHA offer resources for medical waste producers to help prepare a training program that will ensure the safety of workers, as well as decrease the chances of infection and contamination.
MedXWaste can help you develop a program for proper and compliant medical waste removal through our OSHA training program.
Improper labeling of medical waste and biohazardous waste containers
Medical waste packaging and labeling in a facility that deals with regulated medical waste is the responsibility of the facility itself. Packaging includes sharps containers, biohazard containers, plastic bags, and reusable containers. Failure to comply with safe containment is both an environmental issue and community health issue, one that can comes with hefty fines.
Many states categorize waste into sub-categorizes, such as cultures and stocks, human blood, blood products, sharps, and animal waste. Keeping types of medical waste separate and using properly marked containers is not only mandated by law, it helps you choose how and when, not to mention whom removes the waste for you.
Mishandling of medical waste and removal
Whoever signs the manifest for waste pickup must have had the proper OSHA/DOT training and knowledge behind the medical waste. If your average Joe signs for anything that involves medical waste, your facility will receive a citation for non-compliance.
Inadequate signage
Hazardous waste requires special handling, disposal, and storage. Both the EPA and DOT have requirements that must be met in order to properly store and dispose of waste. Failure to post signage about restricted areas, hazardous containers, or infection control can put staff and patients at serious risk
Avoid mistakes. Work with a medical waste removal provider like MedXwaste.
The best way to avoid mistakes is to work with a certified and professional medical waste removal provider like MedXwaste. Established by professionals with extensive experience in the medical waste business, MedXwaste helps our customers to stay in compliance with the law.
Contact MedXwaste today to discuss our full-service options, from pickup to training and compliance.
Service Areas: Long Island Medical Waste; New York City Medical Waste; Westchester Medical Waste and More!
