Maintaining a compliant medical waste disposal program requires strict adherence to federal, state, and local regulations. With so many guidelines to follow, it’s easy to make a mistake. Let’s take a look at the top 5 medical waste disposal compliance mistakes that facilities make and review how to avoid them.
Compliance Mistake #1: Incorrect Segregation and Labeling of Waste
Due to the vast number of hazardous waste disposal guidelines, maintaining proper segregation of medical waste can be challenging. You’ll need to review guidelines from OSHA, the EPA, DOT, and other regulatory agencies to ensure you understand medical waste segregation rules and have stored each type of waste according to the law.
Common guidance for healthcare facility waste management programs includes:
- Store used sharps in a rigid, puncture-resistant, leak-proof, sealable, labeled containers.
- Segregate medical waste by type and store it in appropriately labeled, leak-proof containers.
- Ensure that pharmaceutical waste is segregated and stored in a well-ventilated area.
- Schedule frequent pickup to avoid storing waste in large quantities or for long periods.
The key is to maintain safety by never mixing waste types, always storing materials in a leak-proof container, and correctly labeling each container per regulations.
If you have further questions about how to segregate and store your medical waste, check out these helpful guidelines.
Compliance Mistake #2: Inadequate Documentation
All medical waste disposal programs must maintain adequate documentation of their compliance with regulations. Most important is the manifest, a document that follows the waste from the generating facility, during transportation, and onto its final destination at the treatment facility. The organization is also responsible for maintaining records on:
- Audit outcomes
- Staff training
- Waste management policies and procedures
- Medical waste removal schedules
- Waste generation streams
- Type and volume of waste generated
- Copies of any relevant permits and licenses
- Contact information for your medical waste disposal company
- Copies of Medical Waste Manifests
- Certificates of Destruction
It’s important to maintain all proper documentation and to do so for a minimum of three years. Failure to do so could result in serious legal penalties.
For information on maintaining compliance in documentation and tracking, follow these tips.
Compliance Mistake #3: Inadequate Staff Training
All staff are responsible for maintaining compliance in medical waste disposal. From a nurse disposing of unused medications and wound dressings to a human resources representative who walks by the lab daily, every person should know the regulations and how to report non-compliant practices. Therefore, along with regular auditing of your medical waste disposal program, you must provide periodic training to all employees on compliance, documentation, and reporting.
This handbook can help you develop and utilize an effective employee medical waste compliance training program.
Compliance Mistake #4: Non-Compliance with Transportation Regulations
It’s a false belief that once your medical waste leaves your facility, you are no longer responsible for it. In fact, the “cradle to grave” tracking standard set forth by The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 means you are responsible for your waste until it is properly treated. With this in mind, you must choose your medical waste transportation company wisely. Look for one who:
- Has a reputation for compliance and reliability
- Maintains standards of compliance
- Provides you with a copy of the medical waste manifest
- Works with reputable waste treatment facilities
If you’re in California (specifically the Los Angeles area), check out MedWaste Management, a company with high compliance standards and a reputation that backs it up!
Compliance Mistake #5: Failure to Conduct Regular Audits and Reviews
Audits are essential for bringing light to any areas of non-compliance in your medical waste program. From staff knowledge gaps to improperly segregated waste, these issues are identified and rectified through the audit process. If you fail to conduct internal medical waste audits, you’ll find yourself in hot water when a regulatory agency surprises you with one of its own.
Set yourself up for success by conducting regular, thorough audits of your hazardous waste disposal program and following up with all corrective actions.
Avoid these medical waste disposal compliance mistakes to protect yourself and your business from steep legal penalties, loss of licensure, and tarnishing of your reputation in the community.
We are MedWaste Management – California’s medical waste disposal experts!
Established in 2008, MedWaste Management fills a need for compliant and safe medical waste disposal in the healthcare industry and the general public alike. We publish this blog to share valuable and practical information to help you stay safe, informed, and healthy!
Call us with any questions or to start service at (866) 254-5105. We are always happy to help!
Check out our services and other great resources in the links below.
Medical Waste Disposal Services
Learn How To Properly Manage & Dispose of Household Medical Waste
Tammy McKinney, RN, is a healthcare writer and seasoned registered nurse. With experience in acute care, long-term care, rehabilitation, drug & alcohol, and hospice & palliative care, she combines her medical understanding with her love for writing to educate and inform the public on various health-related topics. You can view a snippet of her portfolio here or contact her directly on LinkedIn!
