By definition, a hazardous waste is a waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. All wastes must go through a strict determination methodology to determine if the waste poses a threat to a person’s health and/or the environment – and would, therefore, be considered a hazardous waste by EPA regulations. Hazardous waste (HW) that is improperly classified – but managed off of a generator’s site to a Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) – would be considered “non-conforming waste.”
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Sharps Safety Under OSHA’s Needlestick Prevention and Safety Act
In 2001 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised their Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Standard with The Needlestick Prevention and Safety Act to detail more specific requirements for employers to address sharps safety and needlestick incidents. The following requirements were officially integrated into the Standard:
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Cost-Effective Medication Disposal in Long-Term Care
This is an update of the article originally published on November 3, 2015. Regulations change frequently. That’s why Sharps Compliance monitors updates and communicates any changes to its customers.
Nurses practicing in senior care have very busy work schedules. From caring for residents to distributing medications and updating records, their days can become overwhelming. One of the most important tasks is the disposal of unused medication.
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General Medical Waste Management Under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, was first issued in 1991 to protect employees from occupational hazards posed by exposure to microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease in humans. The Standard defines “regulated waste” as follows:
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INFOGRAPHIC: What to Do if You Find a Discarded Syringe or Sharp
Safe handling and disposal of used needles and sharps help prevent injuries caused by accidental needlesticks. Unfortunately, many people don’t properly dispose of their used syringes and sharps. As a result, other people are injured by used syringes that were carelessly discarded in garbage cans, dropped in parks and playgrounds, or left behind in other public places.
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