In dealing with bio-hazardous waste disposal in West Palm, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for providing a safe work environment for all U.S. workers, including those working in laboratories. As such, this federal agency has a good deal to say when it comes to bio-hazardous waste disposal West Palm standards.
The OSHA lab standards mostly regard dealing with storage, handling and potential exposure to hazardous situations and infectious materials, such as chemicals and microbiological and other medical waste, before, during and after use.
The first regulation concerns the appointment of a chemical hygiene officer and creating and putting to use a chemical hygiene plan. This is the 29 CFR. According to it, a worker must not be exposed to any defined chemical over a certain level.
The sub-part Z is further divided into several parts, or sections.
A Brief Look at the Sections of 29 CFR
Section A regards general principles for handling lab chemicals and involves establishing a chemical hygiene plan, along with explaining the importance of avoiding exposure and limiting risks by taking preventive measures.
Section B includes the Chemical Hygiene Plan and explained the responsibilities further. The first one of these is that chemical hygiene are everyone’s responsibility. This means, for instance, that, regarding bio-hazardous waste disposal, it is everyone’s obligation to help in handling infectious waste, such as stocks and culture dishes, of course as much as their training in handling those allows. The legal and financial burden (unless proven otherwise) for this falls to the CEO and the management of the laboratory. The second responsibility is that of the unit supervisor or manager, while the third one includes the responsibilities of the selected hygiene officer.
Section C includes Design Sections A to E. These consider proper exhaust systems and ventilation. When it comes to storing medical wastes, these are extremely important, especially section E, which describes bio-hazardous waste disposal. Another section also describes the maintenance of an incinerator.
Section D involves Components of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. Basic rules and procedures are listed in section E, while chemical procurement distribution and storage is explained in sections A to D. These discuss the how chemicals are received, contained and distributed. Other parts of Section D explain maintenance, inspection, first aid, PPE, accident records, labeling, warning signs, alarm systems, emergency plans, spill control policy, training (including type and frequency) and medical waste disposal in relation to humans, animals and the environment.
Section E gives guidelines to laboratory workers and includes general safety rules, dealing with allergens through wearing proper PPE and storage, minimizing exposure, spill prevention and medical waste disposal. This section also covers access to controlled areas, contamination/decontamination , medical records, labels, signs, storage, gloves, etc.
Section F lists agents that can inflict a physical injury, electricity, heat, fire, low temperature and pressurized or vacuum operations.
Finally, Section G refers to hazardous chemicals and their description. These are come in sheet lists that have to be kept with chemicals at all times.
In Conclusion
Laboratory workers have to deal with dangerous chemicals on a daily basis. When you add bio-hazardous waste disposal to this equation, you can fully understand why OSHA goes to great lengths to create such extensive regulations for laboratories in workplaces that come in contact with bio-hazardous waste disposal West Palm.
