All Entries in the "EPA" Category
Go ahead, ask your haulers about regulated medical waste
A lot of the rules regarding regulated medical waste live at the state level, and generally the most knowledgeable folks in the food chain are the medical waste disposal people — in other words, your vendors and haulers.
My consultative advice would be [more]
Hazmat inventory provisions under EC.02.02.01
Environment of care standard EC.02.02.01 talks of maintaining an inventory of hazardous materials and waste.
I’ve been wondering when folks such as you would get around to looking over the revised hazmat standard under EC.02.02.01. After the establishment of the new life safety and emergency management standards for 2009, The Joint Commission did the most tinkering [more]
Lead aprons and hazardous waste disposal
I found myself in an e-mail conversation recently about the disposal of lead radiation aprons and whether there is a hazardous waste or EPA aspect to this activity.
My experience has been [more]
Air pollution control devices may help with upcoming EPA notification
The EPA put a new rule into effect in December that requires hospitals with ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilizers to run full loads.
Partial loads may be run if medically necessary, and in all cases, hospitals must document every sterilizer load and, when loads aren’t full, note the medical reasons. The EPA mandates initial notification of compliance status for existing sterilizers by June 27, 2009.
An EPA brochure on the subject indicates one of the key compliance methods is the use of [more]
Though EPA is proposing pharmaceutical waste changes, pay attention to your state
Pharmaceutical waste, as they say in the industry, is a very sticky wicket. There is certainly a great deal of anticipation that the RCRA restrictions (nice alliteration, eh?) will be relaxed to a degree that is most favorable to hospitals when it comes to this waste (see the January 29 Hospital Safety Connection for a brief rundown of what’s happening).
Basically, universal waste includes [more]
Upcoming EPA deadline, from the latest Briefings on Hospital Safety
Hi everyone, it’s Scott Wallask –
The EPA has an important deadline coming up December 29 regarding ethylene oxide sterilizer loads. That’s our lead story in the current issue of Briefings on Hospital Safety, which is available online for all subscribers to the Hospital Safety Center.
Other articles include:
- Some timely tips about the revised EC standards, which take effect January 1
- How one hospital regained its ground after a document mishap during a Joint Commission survey
- Ten ways to better prepare for a surge in pediatric patients
If you’re not a subscriber to the Hospital Safety Center and want to learn more, click here.
Is The Joint Commission considering a hazmat focus?
EPA has issued ethylene oxide sterilizer rule
I’ve been seeing a fair amount of discussion about the EPA’s final rule on ethylene oxide sterilizers. I don’t have a chance right now to delve into thoughts about it, but wanted to post something just for your FYI.
The final rule applies to any existing or new hospital ethylene oxide sterilization facility that qualifies as an area source of hazardous air pollutant, according to the EPA.
To read the full rule, click here.
I know the folks at Briefings on Hospital Safety are working on a story about this development, so stay tuned.
EPA issues a ruling on epinephrine salts
Hey everyone, it’s Scott Wallask checking in with an interesting note from the EPA. It appears ephineprine salts are officially off the list of P-listed wastes that the agency regulates.
Click here to read the decision.
Sounds like that’s a welcome announcement.
