Proper disposal of regulated medical waste is an important aspect of ensuring that your company is not only adhering to local and national guidelines associated with medical wage, but it’s also crucial as it helps to ensure that you avoid potentially massive fines. While you might not think too much about fines from improper waste disposal, consider the impact these fines can have on your business, some of which could sink a small business. At Preferred Waste Concepts, we want to help you and your staff understand the gravity of improper disposal by outlining some of the fines your company could be subject
OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) regulates the disposal of regulated medical waste to ensure that your employees are safe. Improper disposal of medical waste can increase risks of exposure to blood-borne pathogens as well as personal injury from needle sticks and more. OSHA can fine your business anywhere from $5,000 to $70,000 per violation.
Some of the most common violations that OSHA inspectors find with medical waste include:
- Improper waste segregation
- Lack of emergency contingency plans
- Container management and labeling
- Inadequate employee training
Failure to follow OSHA standards for workplace safety can result in hefty fines that are difficult for small businesses and medical clinics to pay.
EPA
In contrast to OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in place to ensure the proper disposal of medical waste to protect the state of the environment. The EPA has much harsher penalties as your organization can be fined a minimum of $22,500 to more than $93,000. Standards regarding proper disposal of medical waste are clearly outlined on the EPA’s website. You can learn more about necessary tracking documents, treatment of infectious waste, transportation of waste, and more. Fines from the EPA will be assessed based on the severity and frequency of the violation. For instance, some penalties will be assessed based on a single occurrence, while others can be assessed on a daily basis. As you can imagine, fines that are assessed each day the problem isn’t remedied can get extremely costly.
Other organizations
The EPA and OSHA are not the only organizations that have the ability to fine your business for improper medical waste disposal. Other agencies and administrations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the state department of Public Health and Environment, and even the Department of Transportation (DOT) can step in to verify regulated medical waste disposal. It’s worth your company’s time and effort to train your employees and check their work periodically to verify that they’re taking the proper measures every time with the disposal.
Contact us for help
As an organization, the onus for properly training your staff in the proper disposal of regulated medical waste falls on your shoulders. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. Our team at Preferred Waste Concepts is here to provide your company with proper training in medical waste disposal procedures and haul away your waste for you. We have nearly three decades of experience working in the waste industry, so our knowledgeable team will ensure that you get excellent training.
Give us a call at 314-413-7500 to speak with a member of our staff and find out how we can help your company get compliant with medical waste disposal. If you’d prefer, send an email to info@preferredwasteconcepts.com or via our online contact form. We’re your experts in the compliant disposal of regulated medical waste.