Fluids Standards
Boca Raton Bio-hazardous waste removal and medical waste management as a whole is regulated in the United States by a number of government agencies. Due to this, there are some differences, especially considering that practically every one of the 50 US states has its own medical waste regulations.
Different Agency Regulations
Fist of all, it is good to know a thing or two about the different bio-hazardous waste removal regulations.
The EPA or Environmental Protection Agency was the first to begin regulating medical waste and its disposal. The first act related to this type of waste was the Medical Waste Tracking Act, which the Congress introduced in 1988. Today, however, EPA mostly concentrates on regulating the emissions from medical waste incinerators, as well as the requirements that fall under the FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
The Center for Disease Control provides different guidelines for controlling infectious waste.
DOT, or Department of Transport regulates shipping and transportation of medical wastes. Their regulation apply to what types of vehicles can be used in medical waste management Boca Raton. These vehicles are used to transport medical waste safely from the point of their origin (health care facility) to the point where they will be destroyed or otherwise disposed of (bio-hazardous waste removal plant).
Also, almost every one of the 50 states in the US have their own regulations and requirement pertaining to the medical waste management. There are some differences here, however, so if you are thinking of starting a bio-hazardous waste removal business of your own, or hiring someone to do it for you, make sure that you learn the local laws and requirements.
OSHA Regulations Regarding Blood and Other Body Fluids
Blood and other body liquids can easily spread infectious diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis C, so workers handling this type of waste should proceed with extra care when cleaning spills. The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has the task of protecting workers by issuing health and safety standards for cleaning up blood and bodily liquids.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
A person responsible for cleaning up blood and other bodily liquid (urine, vomit, semen…) spills needs to keep himself or herself protected from infection. This is best done by wearing PPE (personal protective equipment). The PPE should include a face mask, rubber gloves, an apron or gown and eye protection goggles. If you are cleaning blood spills or other kind of bio-hazardous waste, you should also make sure to protect your skin, so wear long sleeves and pants as well while cleaning the spill.
Cleaning Equipment Used
When it comes to cleaning equipment OSHA requests that all individuals working with bio-hazardous waste should avoid picking up broken glass and sharps with their hands. Instead, a broom and dustpan should be used to pick up an sharps waste from the floor, while a forceps or tongs need to be used for picking up needles and such from other flat surfaces when thinking of Boca Raton Bio-Hazardous Waste Removal.
