Hazardous Materials: Risky Business, Safe Solutions Suzanne Metz, Workers Compensation Program Randy Benson, Rural Healthcare Quality Network

 Safe and Environmentally Friendly Hospitals Comprehensive Program to handle hazardous materials  Manage  Store  Dispose Two Parts (RCRA)  Hazardous Materials Solid, Liquid, Gas (dusts, mixtures, paints, fuels, solvents  Hazardous Waste Regulated Universal

 Hazardous Materials in Hospitals Cleaning Chemicals Laboratory Chemicals Mercury Pesticides Pharmaceuticals Medical Gases Radiologicals Sterilants and Disinfectants

 Hazardous Materials Resources Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)   Chemical Sampling File  1500 Substances Considered Hazardous Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Substance Control Act TSCA   62,000 Chemicals Considered Hazardous Online Hazardous Chemical Libraries  >100,000 Chemical For Which There Is An MSDS 

 Hazardous Materials become Hazardous Waste When Discarded  EPA Recommendations Reduce Volume of Waste Generated* Prevent Exposures to Humans and Ecosystems Manage Waste and Clean-up Chemical Releases  Managing Hazards Inventory Obtain MSDS Forms Manage The Hazardous Chemicals

 Managing Hazardous Materials Proper Labels Properly Label and Separate Non-Hazardous Materials Segregate Incompatible Chemicals Segregated Chemicals –liquids- are kept in secondary containment Hazardous Materials Are Stored Next To Or Above Sinks All Hazardous Materials Are Properly Capped and Sealed Flammable Liquids, Including Flammable Liquid Waste in Excess Of 5-10 Gallons, Should Be Stored Outside of a Storage Cabinet

 Hazardous Waste Listed by EPA Meets One of Four Characteristics  Reactive  Ignitable  Corrosive  Toxic Subject to Rules Concerning: (EPA, OSHA, RCRA)  How To Store  How Long To Store  Who May Transport and Receive The Waste  What Kinds Of Records Must Be Maintained

 Medical Waste Infectious Hazardous Radioactive General  OSHA/DOSH, EPA Regulations: Written Exposure Control Plan For Blood and Infectious Material Exposure Written Hazard Communication Program For Other Hazardous Materials  Inventory, Labeling, MSDS, Education

 Universal Waste Waste Generated By Large Numbers of Businesses in Relatively Small Quantities  Batteries, Thermostats, Lamps/bulbs, Pesticides  Regulated Waste Any Hazardous Waste Identified By The Federal Government As a Significant Human Or Environmental Hazard (e.g. Mercury)  Regulated Medical Waste Infectious Waste After It Has Been Removed From a Healthcare Facility and Is Stored, Transported or Disposed of.