Proper Medical Waste Disposal is the Gift of Security

With all the distractions and stress that typically accompanies the holiday season, it may be likely for some of your employees and co-workers to accidentally forget to appropriately follow medical waste safety protocols. It’s moments like these when the value of a professional medical waste disposal company comes to light.

“Ho, ho, ho…oh no”

According to OSHA regulations, (1910.1030(b)), Regulated Waste means “liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed.” It further states that “items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials are capable of releasing these materials during handling, contaminated sharps, and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.” Furthermore, OSHA says “the blood or body fluid can spill, splash, splatter or drip to get into an existing portal of entry” which in turn has the potential to infect.

The results of poor management systems for these kinds of waste that you must avoid can include:

• Sharps-inflicted injuries
• Toxic exposure to pharmaceutical substances
• Air pollution
• Thermal, chemical or radiation burns.

Regarding sharps, an infected needle stick injury has a 30-percent risk of the stick containing the Hepatitis-B virus, a 1.8-percent risk of Hepatitis-C, and a 0.3-percent risk of the stick being infected with HIV. Thus, best practice for medical waste disposal indicates that the red bags and boxes that serve as sharps containers should always be replaced with each service. This prevents sanitation concerns because infectious pathogens are harbored in the containers. Also, it avoids repackaging sharps and contaminated materials prior to transport.

‘Tis the Safe Medical Waste Disposal Season

Everyone is aware that illnesses and healthcare needs certainly don’t take that time off.  Surgeries, blood work, and other procedures that create medical waste continue as usual in facilities. This includes:

• Hospitals
• Labs and research hubs
• Mortuary and autopsy centers
• Blood banks and collection services
• Nursing homes and assisted living locations.

By partnering with a secure medical waste disposal company that provides you with a certificate of destruction, you receive the peace of mind knowing that you’ll have a personalized waste-control strategy tailored specifically to your facility’s needs. Waste managers can quickly identify appropriate sizes and quantities of waste containers, collection boxes, and sharps boxes for each room. This method is employed over a “one-size-fits-most” approach.

A Gift that Keeps on Giving

Proper waste disposal reduces the risks of contamination to your staff, patients, community, public health and the environment. This includes the unintended release of chemical or biological hazards or drug resistant microorganisms. However, that does not cover all the positives this procedure provides. When you partner with a professional medical waste disposal company, you can avoid regulatory fines and publicly demonstrate your commitment to safety and environmental protection. This is an ongoing benefit to your company.

As we head into the new year, learn more about what you need to do to ensure you have a proper medical waste disposal agreement in place at your facility. Connect with SecureMed in the Greater Birmingham and Huntsville areas to get a free quote for complete, compliant, and reliable medical waste disposal. For more information, reach out to us on our website.