umhc annual hospital required education (uahre) 2020

Biomedical Waste Management

1

Onboarding Module


2

Welcome to Provision of Care

Approximate Duration: 60 minutes

For questions on this subject, please contact the appropriate department:

UMHC: (305) 243-4388


Biomedical Waste-Regulated Waste 2021

• “Regulated Waste” means liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.


Biomedical Waste- Regulated Waste 2021

Place regulated waste in: A receptable that exhibits a biohazard symbol Policy designated color-coded receptacleRegulated waste includes: Blood and other bodily fluids such as urine, sputum, feces, etc.Absorbent items saturated with blood or other potentially infectious

materialsContaminated equipment and sharpsBlood & Hemodialysis TubingAny pathological or microbiological waste


Identification of Biomedical Waste

Labels include the universal biohazard symbol, and the term “Biohazard” affixed to it for: Sharps containers and containers of regulated biohazard waste Refrigerators or freezers

containing blood or regulated waste Containers used to store,

transport, or ship blood or other potentially infectious materials Contaminated equipment for service/shipping to an outside agency


BIOMEDICAL WASTE

Sharps Include:• Needles• Scalpels• Broken capillary tubes• Any contaminated sharp object (i.e.., scalpel, razor)

that may cause injury• Ensure that all syringes are properly discarded using the sharps

disposal process. Syringes should never be flushed down sanitary drains or thrown into regular trash.

• Needles and syringes containing visible amounts of pharmaceuticals should be placed in the applicable black bins and not in the red bins.

• Replace sharps container when materials reach the “fill line” or ¾ full

• Do not reach hand into rigid container to retrieve objects• Broken glass should be handled using a mechanical device• Use self-sheathing needles


HAZARDOUS WASTE PHARMACEUTICAL

The University of Miami Hospital & Clinics are collecting:

• All Pharmaceutical Waste – Hazardous & Non-Hazardous

• All Bulk and Trace Chemotherapy Waste

What is NOT Collected in the Black Containers:• Trace chemo• Saline Bags that are not contaminated with chemo• Controlled Substances/DEA Controlled Substances (Narcotics)• Biohazardous Waste• Sharps (not used to administer pharmaceuticals)• Needles and syringes of fully administered medications (place in red Biohazard container)• Municipal Trash & Recycling


BIOMEDICAL WASTE• Disposed all Biomedical Waste that is not a sharp in approved impermeable, red

plastic bags• If an object can puncture the bag, then it should go into the sharps container• Secure the bag when ¾ full using a strong “gooseneck” knot• Minimize your risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens by:

a. containing, removing, and disinfecting all blood or body fluids spills as quicklyand effectively as possible

b. Wear gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)• Do not eat, drink, apply cosmetics or place anything in/near your mouth in work

areas where exposure is likely• Use mechanical means to manage a blood spills that also contains broken glass

(brush and dustpan, tongs, or forceps) • All sealed biomedical waste red bags and sharp containers will be labeled with the

facility’s name and address prior to offsite transport• The international biological hazard symbol shall be at least six inches in diameter on

bags 19 inches x 14 inches or larger, and at least one inch in diameter on bags smaller than 19 inches x 14 inches

• Biomedical waste must be discarded, packaged, and sealed at the “point of origin” (Example: patient room or treatment area)


COVID-19 Biomedical Waste

• For medical waste with potential or known COVID-19 contamination, manage like any other regulated medical waste.

United States Department of Labor, COVID-19 - Control and Prevention. Information retrieved 1-14-2021 from https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/control-prevention#solidwaste

https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/control-prevention#solidwaste


Transporting Biohazard Waste

While wearing gloves, gather the 4 edges of the red bag from the sides of the container

Twist the top of the bag to seal its contents Secure the seal with a strong, gooseneck knot to prevent any

leakage if inverted


Minimize Risk

Practice good housekeeping:Observe established practices, schedules, and procedures for

cleaning and disinfecting work areas at your facility Follow recommended practices for handling contaminated clothing

and laundry at your facility Bag soiled linens (including isolation linens) in plastic bagsDouble bag laundry if the outside of the first bag is visibly soiled or

soak through is anticipated. Handle with minimal agitation Bagged/containerization at location of use Place in color-coded bags Label appropriately


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PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE

• Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Pharmaceuticals• Bulk-Chemotherapy Waste: Not Fully Administered waste left in the syringe or vial

(greater than 3% of the original weight).

• Trace = Fully administered medication <3% of the original volume by weight• Gloves, Gowns, Tubing, and other chemotherapy associated material including empty

bags/vials and the needles attached to the tubings.

• Aerosols such as Benzoin Spray, Fluoromethane Spray, Granulex Spray, etc.• NOTE: Inhalers and/or ethyl chloride will be disposed of in the blue labeled bin

• Virgin (unused) Silver Nitrate • NOTE: Spent (used) Silver Nitrate will be disposed of in the blue labeled bin

• Virgin (Unused) Arsenic Trioxide will only be disposed of in this bin


Storage of Biohazard Waste

When sealed, dedicated soiled utility rooms will be used for temporary storage of biohazard waste

Once collected and awaiting removal from hospital grounds, biohazard waste will be stored in areas that are restricted through the use of locks, signs or restricted access locations


Cleaning /Decontaminating Worksite

Clean or decontaminate your equipment or worksite for small spills and routine cleaning: after contact with blood/OPIM after medical procedures when surface is overtly contaminated after any spill of blood/OPIM at end of your work shift

Be sure to use personal protective equipment when cleaning your worksite. For large spills, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at 305-243-3400


What To Do If You Are Exposed

Medical Follow-Up and EvaluationWhen you have contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, immediately: Cleanse the area - flush eyes and mucous membranes with large

amounts of water. Wash the exposed skin with soap and water Report the exposure incident to your supervisor and the Employee

Health Office immediately Notify the Hospital needle stick personnel in which the exposure

occurred. Complete an injury/accident report form Go through the evaluation and follow-up process

Biomedical Waste ManagementWhat Information do I Need After an Exposure Incident?

Provide the Employee Health Office with the following information when you call to report an exposure incident: The location of the incident The name of the source patient The medical record of the source patient The room number of the source patient Your full name, job title, and phone number


POST EXPOSURE EVALUATION

The Post-Exposure Evaluation consists of the following steps: The source patient is tested immediately The exposed person is offered baseline testing for HIV, HBV, and

HCV, treatment, and counseling as neededThe exposure is confidential. The exposed person is notified of diseases that the source patient might have while the patient’s identity is protected


Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV Exposures

The decision to start PEP is based on risk factors and exposure type.The risk of infection varies: Amount of blood; viral load of source.PEP should be initiated within a few hours after exposureYou can pick up the medications at a Pharmacy 24 hours/day once it is deemed necessary for you to start taking medications


Biohazard Contingency Plan

• In response to a hospital disaster event, follow leadership and incident command instructions for alternate biomedical waste collection, containment, transport and removal

• As part of our response plan, alternate biomedical waste containment locations have been pre-designated and outside resources to manage waste have been identified


• HIPAA Privacy Office

(305) 243-5000

• Facility Safety Officers

(305) 243-7979

• Risk Management

(305) 243-1400

• Infection Control

Sylvester (305) 243-4201

UTower (305) 689-5962BPEI (305) 482-4176

• Radiation Safety Officer/Radiation Control Center

(305) 243- 6360

• Ethics & Compliance

1 (877) 415-4357

• Florida Abuse Hotline

1 (800) 96-ABUSE

(1 (800) 962-2873)

• Campus Emergency:

• Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

(305) 243-6000

• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

(305) 243-6000

• UHealth Tower

(305) 689-2121

• Nursing Supervisors:

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

(305) 986-4210

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

• (305) 326-6500

• (Charge Nurse)

UHealth Tower

• (305) 689-5620

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

umhc annual hospital required education (uahre) 2020

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