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The American public started viewing medical waste management Miami, especially waste disposal, with a different set of eyes back in the 1990s, following several cases of medical refuse, including sharps appearing on the shores of United States. In June 1998, the first real step was made in protecting the environment from the adverse effects of biomedical waste with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the (AHA) American Hospital Association, which served and still serves to regulate and control medical waste disposal
Agency Surveillance of Medical Waste Management Miami
Medical care facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, nursery homes, dental offices, emergency centers and veterinary clinics all need to abide by the established municipal, state and federal laws and regulations when it comes to medical waste disposal and treatment. These regulations are imposed by government agencies, which also keep an eye on those facilities that try to take shortcuts on the expense of environment and public health.
MWTA (Medical Waste Tracking Act)
The Medical Waste Tracking Act, or simply MWTA, was created back in 1988 and is one of the first legislations to keep control on medical waste and how it is disposed of. This act clearly defines the different types of medical waste and identifies which one of them require regulation. In addition to that, MWTA also provides a system for tracking how medical waste is disposed of and established fines for those health care facilities that do not comply with the standards and regulations.
Sharps Waste Disposal Regulations
Different states in America set up guidelines for the disposal of medical sharps, such as needles, syringes, scissors, scalpels and other items with pointed edges or blades, including those used in medical care facilities and those used in private homes (for instance by diabetics). The later is often neglected when it comes to medical waste management Miami (with most health care institutions focusing only on what they generate), but for example, only in the state of New Jersey, the amount of sharps waste from private homes makes up almost 700,000 of all daily disposed sharps. Because of this, United States citizens are required to bring their sharps waste to the nearest collection site found outside pharmacies, dentist or doctor office or a fire station.
Health care facilities, however, should have their own sharps waste containers. These should always be at hand during surgical or similar procedures for safe and secure sharps waste disposal. Once the container is full, it should be carried to the autoclave machine for steam sterilization. This will enable the instruments to be used again or recycled for a different purpose.
What are the Benefits of Medical Waste Regulations?
By clearly defining medical waste regulations and guidelines, we can reduce pollution and keep cases of infectious disease breakouts caused by wrongfully disposed medical waste to a minimum. Furthermore, medical waste regulations also aid in education health care workers and patients about the hazards of improper medical waste management Miami.
