The Essentials of Storing and Shipping Regulated Medical Waste

Regulated medical wastes extend beyond healthcare facilities and diagnosis laboratories. Manufacturing and other facilities increasingly have to address regulated medical waste management from onsite health clinics and employee self-medication syringe collection containers.

The unique hazards of medical wastes and bloodborne-containing discarded materials cause them to be subject to special workplace safety regulations, environmental/waste management, and hazardous materials transportation. The SH&E manager has a triumvirate of regulations to grapple with. Employee exposure can result in needlestick and other sharps-related injuries which expose workers to bloodborne pathogens (BBP), including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. The wastes are subject to state waste management standards that may be as rigorous as hazardous waste regulations. In addition, the U.S. DOT has detailed requirements for anyone shipping these hazardous materials.

This program will benefit anyone with direct management responsibilities for general workplace safety compliance, solid/hazardous waste, or hazmat shipping. It is believed that the audience will have a basic, functional understanding of OSHA General Industry, U.S. EPA hazardous waste, and, and U.S. DOT hazardous material transportation regulations. However, participants may be looking to focus their understanding or gain insights into the latest regulatory activity regarding regulated medical wastes.

Participants will learn:

 

• General health, transportation, and environmental hazards associated with various regulated medical wastes
• How to prepare packages of regulated medical waste for transportation in accordance with U.S. and IATA regulations
• General workplace practice for safe storage and handling of regulated medical waste
• Common state solid waste management requirements for storage, transport, tracking, and disposal