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PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
Smart segregation, storage reduce biohazardous waste risks
BY ARMAN ZEYTOUNYAN
F
rom sharps and blood-soaked
surgical instruments to discarded
anesthetic agents, biohazardous
waste from ORs can threaten human
health and the environment. In addition,
failure to adhere to regulatory requirements
can result in significant fines.
However, the volume and diversity
of biohazardous waste can create challenges
with managing this material.
Mitigating health risks-and ensuring
regulatory compliance-requires understanding
how to segregate, store, and
dispose of the different forms of waste
generated in and around the OR.
Education and training
Effective waste management begins
with a well-trained, knowledgeable staff.
The importance of identifying and explaining
specific operating procedures
should not be overlooked, particularly
for new employees who may be uneducated
about safety protocols or bring
in bad habits. Consider incorporating
waste management into new employee
orientations.
From there, ongoing education and
reinforcement are critical to building a
culture of safety and compliance. Key
components of a comprehensive training
program include:
* regular sessions on waste segregation
and handling
* hands-on training with waste management
equipment and personal
protective equipment (PPE)
* updates on regulatory changes and
compliance requirements.
Safe segregation
Proper handling and storage begins with
segregating biohazardous waste at the
point of generation. Treating waste as a
singular category of materials is a common
misunderstanding. Actually, biohazardous
waste is a parent designation
encompassing multiple sub-categories,
including:
* Infectious waste (also known as
RMW, Red-Bag Waste), such as
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wound packing, PPE, or any material
exposed to human pathogens
* Sharps waste, which includes needles,
syringes, and any object that
can puncture the skin
* Pharmaceutical waste, which includes
expired or otherwise unusable
medication as well as IV bags
* Pathological waste, such as tissues,
fluids, or body parts.
Medical waste management companies
offer color-coded containers-red
for infectious waste, white for pharmaceutical,
gray for pathological-to help
staff easily identify where to discard
various forms of medical waste. These
should be clearly labeled and easily accessible.
Sharps waste requires puncture-resistant
containers. These are
most often red, but sometimes white
for medication in glass bottles.
Federal, state, and local authorities
determine labeling requirements for
waste containers. For example, infectious
waste containers must have the
biohazard symbol affixed to every visible
side of the container-front, back,
sides, and top. Pharmaceutical and
pathological waste must have labels
that identify the subcategory name itself
or have " Incineration Only " affixed to
every visible side of the container.
Storage, disposal
Moving full containers out of the OR
and/or patient rooms limits the risk of
exposure to a designated waste storage
area. Clear signage should mark this
space as off-limits to the public.
From there, specialized medical
waste management companies handle
collection, transportation, and disposal.
Collection schedules should account
for state or local regulations. In California,
for example, facilities that generate
more than 20 pounds of biohazardous
waste per month can store it on-site
for no longer than 7 days. Haulers also
must adhere to stringent safety procedures,
such as transferring waste on
well-maintained hand trucks and wearA
complex web
Regulatory compliance requires healthcare
facilities to implement comprehensive
waste management programs, provide
staff training, and maintain detailed documentation
of waste handling procedures.
Key regulatory bodies and guidelines include:
➤
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Bloodborne
Pathogens Standard
➤ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regulations on medical waste
➤ Department of Transportation (DOT)
rules for transporting biohazardous
materials
➤ State-specific requirements for medical
waste management.
ing protective gear such as steel-toed
shoes and puncture-resistant gloves.
Depending on state and local regulations,
waste may be autoclaved (a
high-heat sterilization process) or incinerated
(turned to ash). Although larger
facilities may have autoclave and/or
incineration technology in-house, liability
and operational costs push others to
rely on outside services. Regardless,
waste management specialists-who
are likely to be fully versed in relevant
regulations-can help create individualized,
compliant management plans.
Many offer complimentary training to
help educate staff on best practices
and regulatory requirements.
Consultations might also reveal ways
to reduce the volume of waste generated
in the first place, such as opting
for minimal packaging or exploring more
sustainable alternatives to disposable
gowns. Whatever the chosen approach,
there is no room for negligence. Patients,
staff, and the public deserve
proper waste management. ORM
-Arman Zeytounyan is
CEO of Ecowaste Services, a
waste management specialist
in Los Angeles.
OR Manager | Mar/Apr 2025 9
http://www.ormanager.com
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