Transcript Biomedical Waste Must Be Segregated From

Disposal of Biomedical Wastes
Biomedical Waste Presents a Serious Health Problem
Risks Include:
Outright Injury to Workers
Exposure to Infectious Agents
Psychological Trauma
Regulatory Actions
Legal Actions
Environmental Issues
The Risks involve:
Medical Staff
Healthcare Workers
Maintenance and Housekeeping Staff
Disposal Company Staff
Landfill Employees
Innocent and Unaware Public (Kids)
Some Facts from CDC
Sharps
385,000 needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries
are sustained by hospital-based healthcare personnel;
an average of 1,000 sharps injuries per day
Direct costs associated with the initial and follow-up
treatment of exposed healthcare personnel, which are
estimated to range from $500 to $3,000 depending on the
treatment provided
Biomedical Waste
Every year, the United States produces approximately 3.2
million tons of medical waste, which includes blood and
human waste, used needles and other "sharps," pathological
and infectious wastes, "isolation" waste (i.e. waste that
could spread highly communicable diseases) and some
cytotoxic waste (i.e. chemotherapy byproducts).
Some Facts from Okanogan County
The Okanogan County Sanitary Landfill has been seeing 3 to 5 incidents
of illegal Biomedical Waste Disposal per week.
The reports forwarded to Okanogan Public Health by the Landfill have
not been “gray area” violations, but clear and flagrant violations.
In addition to violation of local and state regulations on biomedical
waste, there have clear violations of HIPAA confidentiality and security
regulations (photo documented)
February 15, 2005: Okanogan County Public Health Mailed out Letters to
offending waste generators
3/31/2005: Bloody Plastic tubes, drapes and trays C-section materials
4/1/2005: Biohazard bags in dumpster with regular garbage Bags with blood
gauze, mouth swabs etc
4/8/2005: Unshredded medical records, bloody sponges, gauze, gloves
biohazard bag, bloody drapes sponges contained in black plastic bag
Consequence: Entire 15,700 pound load was treated as biomedical waste
Continued improper disposal places not only the health of workers at risk but also
the continued operation of disposal companies and landfill.
Public Health, the county landfill and the disposal companies are
running out of options.
November 2006 : Okanogan County Adopted a Biomedical Waste
Code with significant penalties and fees:
1st Offense: $ 125 + clean up fees
2nd Offense: $1,000 + clean up fees
3rd Offense: $4,000 + clean up fees
4th Offense: $10,000 + loss of disposal privileges
Local, State and Federal
Regulations Require:
Biomedical Waste must be
Segregated from regular
Domestic Waste at the Site of
Origin or Generation
The Okanogan County Landfill
receives 3 to 5 cases per week of
mixed domestic and biomedical
waste
Local, State and Federal Regulations governing Waste Disposal Companies
require:
Specialized containers and Handling procedures for Biomedical Waste
It is Illegal for Waste Disposal Companies to carry mixed or un-segregated
Domestic Waste and Biomedical Waste
It is illegal to compress or compact Biomedical Waste
Disposal companies can be fined
and/or lose their operating
permits for violations of these
regulations
Disposal Companies can refuse to
accept mixed wastes
Regulatory Definitions of Biomedical Wastes
2) "Biomedical waste" means solid waste of the following types:
(a) "Animal waste," which includes waste animal carcasses, body parts, and bedding of animals
that were known to have been deliberately infected or inoculated with human pathogenic microorganisms
during research.
(b) "Liquid human body fluids" means waste that includes waste liquid emanating or derived from humans
including but not limited to human blood and blood products, serum and plasma, sputum, drainage secretions,
cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid and amniotic fluid that exceeds
fifty milliliters per container, storage vessel, or plastic bag and cannot be and has not been directly discarded
into a sanitary sewage system.
(c) "Cultures and stocks" means waste that includes waste cultures and stocks of microbiological agents
infectious to humans, human serums and discarded live and attenuated vaccines infectious to humans, human
blood specimens, and laboratory wastes that are contaminated with these agents or specimens.
(d) "Biosafety level 4 disease waste," which includes wastes contaminated with blood, excretions, exudates, or
secretions from humans or animals who are isolated to protect others from highly communicable infectious
diseases that are identified as viruses assigned to Biosafety Level 4 by the Centers for Disease Control, National
Institute of Health, Biosafety
(e) "Pathological waste," which includes waste human source biopsy materials, tissues, and
anatomical parts that emanate from surgery, obstetrical procedures, autopsy, and laboratory
procedures. "Pathological waste" does not include teeth or formaldehyde or other preservative
agents, human corpses, remains, and anatomical parts that are intended for interment or
cremation.
Sharps Waste
"Sharps waste," which includes waste hypodermic needles, syringes, IV
tubing with needles attached, scalpel blades, and lancets that have been used
in animal or human patient care or treatment in medical research.
E. Sharps shall be contained for storage, transportation,
treatment, and disposal in leak-proof, rigid, puncture-resistant
containers which are taped closed or tightly lidded to preclude
content loss.
Okanogan County Code
8.62.040Infectious waste segregation requirements for generators.
Under no circumstances shall infectious waste generated from within
Okanogan County be mixed or placed with other solid waste for storage
or transfer when said solid waste is destined for treatment and/or
disposal in a facility requiring segregation of infectious waste.
A. Infectious waste generated or received in Okanogan County shall not be
mixed or placed with other solid waste for storage or transfer when such
solid waste is destined for treatment and/or disposal in a facility requiring
segregation of infectious waste.
B. Infectious waste shall be segregated from other solid waste at
the point of origin in the generating facility and managed by
persons trained in the safe handling of infectious waste.
Biomedical Waste
Basic Rules
1. Biohazard or Biomedical Waste must be separated from “normal
domestic waste”
2. Separation of waste is the responsibility of the waste generator at
the point of origin.
3. Waste in Biohazard or Orange Bags is considered Infectious
by default.
4. The disposal company or transporter can refuse to pick up mixed
waste. Regulations obligate him to refuse. By county, state regulations
Biomedical waste cannot be compacted and there are relatively strict
regulations regarding the transport of biomedical waste.
5.Personnel handling biomedical waste are required to have
appropriate protection.
Consequences of Noncompliance:
Fines to Health Care Provider or Agency
Regulatory Actions: Loss of Disposal Rights
Loss of Licenses
Legal Claims or Lawsuits by injured parties
Basic Precautions
Don’t Mix Orange or Biohazard Marked Bags or Materials with
normal waste
Don’t put normal waste or papers in Biohazard Bags
When in Doubt check with your Supervisor
If there are questions or concerns on the shipment of Biomedical
Materials
Sharps represent the most significant threat: Use proper disposal
Please contact:
1) Okanogan County Landfill
2) The Waste Disposal Company
3) Okanogan County Public Health
Resources for Biomedical Waste Issues
Contact Information
Okanogan County Landfill
LANDFILL AND TRANSFER STATIONS
Central Landfill – Okanogan: 422-2602
Open Tuesday- Saturday 9am-5pm
Bridgeport Bar Transfer Station: 686-4242
Twisp Transfer Station: 997-2025
Open Tues, Thurs; 12-4pm, Sat. 9am-4pm
Ellisforde Transfer Station 476-3910
Okanogan County Public Health
1234 South Second Avenue in Okanogan, Washington.
Phone: 509-422-7140
Fax: 509-422-7142
Mailing Address: PO Box 231, Okanogan, WA 98840
Biomedical Waste Disposal Contractor
Stericycle
Erik Jacobson
800-633-9278
[email protected]
Sharps Disposal for Private Citizens
Okanogan County Public Works Maintains Drop-Off Stations at the following locations
Okanogan County Central Landfill
Bridgeport Bar Transfer Station
Ellisforde Transfer Station
Twisp Transfer Station
Omak:
Okanogan:
Tonasket:
Brewster:
Ulrich Drug
J&S Drug
Roy’s Pharmacy
Brewster Drug
Regulations and Educational Resources
Click on Links
Okanogan County Biomedical Waste Code
Washington State Regulations
WAC 296-62-08001 Bloodborne Pathogens
WAC 173-300-020
Washington State Mercury Chemical Action Plan (Almalagm)
Centers for Disease Control
General Laboratory Safety
Workbook for a Sharps Injury Prevention Program
Biosafety in Biomedical Laboratories
World Health Organization
Wastes from Health-care activities
The Nightingale Institute
Recommendations for Improving Medical Waste Management
FAQ