Regulated Medical Waste Removal

Regulated Medical Waste Guidelines

Medical waste regulations can vary by state. To be sure about your guidelines, you should contact your state’s Environmental Agency and Health Agency. In Missouri specifically, medical waste is regulated by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Waste Management Program.

These departments review the methods of waste removal for approval and regulate the packaging, tracking, transporting, and disposal of the waste.

Other national organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also have special guidelines and recommendations regarding handling medical waste.

OSHA’s mission is to ensure safe and sanitary conditions for workers. For health care workers in environments where there is exposure to bloodborne pathogens, employers must abide by OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.

Complying with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

To be compliant, employers must adhere to specific guidelines set by OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. This can include but is not limited to:

Creating an exposure control plan
Ensuring employees are appropriately trained on safety methods
Offering personal protective equipment (PPE)
Requiring mandatory Hepatitis B vaccinations

Create an Exposure Control Plan

An exposure control plan classifies the tasks, procedures, and jobs where bloodborne pathogen exposure is likely. This is a living document which means it should be regularly updated (yearly) and revised to include the most recent information.

This document will serve as an information source for employees and, as such, should answer all questions related to bloodborne pathogen exposure. If you need help creating this document, OSHA provides a template.

Employee Training

Employees whose duties may require exposure to bloodborne pathogens should undergo yearly training to ensure they know about the risk and avoid exposure to disease.

This training must include critical elements of the exposure plan as well as information about the Hepatitis B vaccine and exposure procedures.

Hepatitis B Vaccination

Employers must offer free Hepatitis B vaccinations to employees with occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). Hepatitis B is an infection that can cause fatal liver complications and is more commonly spread through exposure to body fluids.

Input Post-Exposure Procedures

Employers are required to establish processes in the event of exposure. This process should include documenting the exposure, offering a medical evaluation, and testing the individual’s blood for bloodborne pathogens.

Regulated Medical Waste Packaging

OSHA also sets regulatory requirements for disposing of medical waste materials. For containers holding sharp objects like needles, OSHA requires them to have a biohazard symbol displayed on the outside.

If the sharps are subject to leaking, OSHA requires that you place them in a separate container that is puncture-resistant and leakproof. By doing so, you ensure that the work environment is safe. If using reusable containers, you and your employees must avoid cleaning them manually, emptying them, or opening them in any way that could put you at risk of contamination.

Labeling

Any containers holding medical waste products must be labeled according to regulations. This means that the universal symbol for biohazards and the word biohazard should appear on the containers in clear view.

These containers include but aren’t limited to:

Bags
Contaminated laundry

• Freezers or refrigerators
• Any container used to transport medical waste material

The labels must also be colored with a fluorescent orange background with letters or symbols of a contrasting color. Doing this makes the label more easily recognizable and legible so that workers have no trouble identifying it.

On the other hand, biohazard labels can be substituted for the use of red bags or containers.

Medical Waste Disposal Near Me

The extensive regulations regarding medical waste storage, regulations, and disposal can be hard to grasp, leading to the search for reputable medical waste disposal companies. At DMI Solutions, we believe that your solution to medical waste services shouldn’t have to be.

We have years of experience in the medical disposal field, and we are well-versed in the regulations and requirements that govern them. We only use the most sanitary processes and procedures for transporting and disposing of medical waste.

We pride ourselves on offering exceptional services that allow us to keep you, your staff, and our community safe from infectious diseases. If you’re searching for the “best medical waste disposal near me,” our team at DMI Solutions is the best. Contact us today!