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Plantation Medical waste management is regulated by the RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) which was ratified by the United State Congress on October 21 1976. This is the primary legislative act governing hospital waste disposal for solid and biohazardous waste in the U.S and was several times amended and improved by the Congress.
The RCRA Act includes three different programs:
- Solid waste management program
- Hazardous waste management program
- Underground storage tanks program
These three important medical waste management programs create specific guidelines for the safe disposal of hospital waste.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Albeit municipal and state departments regulate medical waste management Plantation based on the rules and regulations imposed by the RCRA act, they all answer to the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency. This federal government agency is in charge of accomplishing the goals st in the RCRA, particularly protecting human health. The role of EPA is not only to oversee that the RCRA guidelines are followed accordingly by health care facilities, but also to provide information on a national basis. EPA’s website is a place well-worth visiting for education and training materials about medical waste management Plantation.
Hospital Medical Waste Management Rules
Hospitals and other health care institutions must have very specific and clearly defined medical waste management regulations set in place. Each individual state governs these, so there is no one-size-for-all set of rules. For example, if you are in Plantation, Florida, you need to follow Florida state medical waste regulations.
Every hosp[ital in the United States must have a strategic medical waste management plan set in place, which includes waste segregation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste and,he use of incinerator (if there is one).
Another important thing about hospital waste is defining its different types. According to EPA, hospital waste can include: medical waste, pathological waste and administrative waste. Naturally, all of these should be separated. Administrative waste should naturally be disposed of as non-hazardous municipal waste, while medical infectious and non-infectious wastes according to RCRA guidelines.
Hospital Incinerators
90% of medical waste gets incinerated according to EPA. As such, hospital incinerators require a very strict regulation. These include guidelines concerning their size, type, output and finally disposing of resulting ashes. There are also different guidelines for incinerators built before 2008.
Transport and Packaging
Medical waste needs to be placed in water-resistant bags and puncture-resistant containers. These should also clearly be labeled, indication hospital information and what type of medical waste is inside. In addition, if there are biohazards inside, a universal “biohazard” sign should also be placed on the container.
Once placed in proper waste bags and containers, medical waste needs to be shipped to an off-site medical waste management facility.
All hospitals and other health care facilities that produce medical waste must adhere to their local, state and federal laws and regulations regarding Plantation medical waste treatment, packaging, classification, transport and removal, especially those set up by the EPA and OSHA.
