October 30, 2019 Hazardous Drugs vs Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Last updated on October 30, 2019 NIOSH vs RCRA Are you confused by the terms “hazardous drug” and “hazardous waste pharmaceutical” (HWP)? Well, you are not alone. At first glance, it would appear they are the same, but they are not. Knowing the difference can save your facility money and potential regulatory citations. So, let’s clear the confusion. NIOSH/OSHA Hazardous Drugs The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH has developed a list of Hazardous Drugs based on the potential hazard and occupational exposure. NIOSH uses the following six criteria to determine if a drug is hazardous: Carcinogenicity, Teratogenicity or other developmental toxicity, Reproductive toxicity, Organ toxicity at low doses, Genotoxicity, and Structure and toxicity profiles of new drugs that mimic existing drugs that have previously been determined to be hazardous. The drug categories that most often fit the hazardous drug criteria are chemotherapy or antineoplastic agents, antiviral drugs, hormones, some bioengineered drugs, and other miscellaneous drugs. In order for healthcare personnel to reduce occupational exposure when handling hazardous drugs, they must employ safe handling measures congruent with the potential exposure. For example, antineoplastic drugs that are solid, intact coated tablets or capsules and are administered to the patient without any modifications of formulation may not pose a significant risk of direct occupational exposure. Therefore, they do not require any special handling measures. However, if there is a modification to the formulation, such as crushing a tablet or making a solution outside of a ventilated hood, then possible contact, inhalation, or splash exposure could occur, thus requiring proper engineering and work practice controls, as well as PPE. This should sound very familiar if you have received OSHA Hazard Communication (HazCom) training, which includes training on Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) maintained on hazardous drugs to which you may be exposed. NIOSH’s list of Hazardous Drugs is located here. Remember NIOSH hazardous drugs must be safely handled and disposed of; but, they are not necessarily disposed of as RCRA hazardous waste. RCRA Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals In contrast to the NIOSH list of hazardous drugs, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates and lists hazardous waste pharmaceuticals – those drugs that must be managed as hazardous waste. RCRA was passed with three goals in mind: to protect human health and the environment; to reduce waste and conserve energy and natural resources; and to reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous waste as expeditiously as possible. With the passage of RCRA comes the requirement that any generator of waste is required to determine if that waste is hazardous. RCRA has created lists of drugs that are hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. These lists include the P-List, U-List, or Characteristic waste and can be found on the EPA’s website. As well as the drug itself, empty P-listed hazardous waste pharmaceutical containers, such as syringes, IV bags, tubing, and vials are also considered hazardous waste. Empty containers that held either a U-list and/or a characteristic hazardous waste do not need to be managed as hazardous waste. Finally, remember, drugs classified as DEA Controlled Substance (or narcotics) pharmaceuticals are managed separately from non-controlled waste pharmaceuticals. For further information on these and other relevant topics, see our articles on Hazardous Waste, RCRA Hazardous Waste, Medication Disposal, Hazard Communications, and Chemo Waste. In addition, be sure to reference OSHA and your state’s hazardous waste pharmaceutical regulations, as well as your facility’s Hazard Communication Program and policies on proper containment and disposal of RCRA hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. RCRA Hazardous waste pharmaceuticals must be disposed of as hazardous waste but are not necessarily considered NIOSH hazardous drugs. Drug Disposal Options Even though most drugs are not classified as hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, to keep our communities and environment safe, it’s important not to place drugs down the sewer or into the trash. Some states, such as California, do not allow facilities to sewer or trash ANY drugs. Many facilities have turned to the Sharps Compliance TakeAway Environmental Return Systems, which include prepaid UPS return shipping boxes, as a safe and compliant way to dispose of unused non-controlled drugs that are not classified as hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. For those drugs that ARE classified as hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, Sharps Compliance also provides services for compliant packaging, labeling, transport, tracking, and disposal. Read More
October 23, 2019 No More Flushing: Better Options for Safe Medication Disposal in Senior Living Facilities Last updated on April 13, 2021 Many senior living providers aren’t aware that some common medication disposal methods may actually be putting them at risk from a compliance standpoint while reducing operational efficiency and eroding the bottom line. A new white paper published by Sharps Compliance and Senior Housing News explains how “best practices” in medication disposal are changing and how senior living providers can benefit from new, safer pharmaceutical disposal options. The new white paper discusses: Proper medication management disposal in senior living communities The latest disposal regulations from the EPA and DEA Cost-saving methods Environmental considerations In particular, the paper addresses the common practice of “sewering,” or flushing medications down the toilet. This disposal method does not meet the Drug Enforcement Agency’s “non-retrievable” standard for destruction of controlled substances. In February 2019, the EPA issued a rule titled “Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P075 Listing for Nicotine,” which explicitly urged all senior living facilities to stop flushing all medications. There are better medication disposal options that are safe, compliant, and affordable. Learn more about them when you download our free white paper. Read More
October 16, 2019 Regulated Medical Waste in the MedSpa Industry Last updated on October 28, 2019 Aesthetic procedures are having “a moment” right now with Medical Spas (MedSpas) spreading across the nation into urban and suburban landscapes alike. Both medical and spa-like in one, this hybrid business model can include a wide variety of offerings beyond just Botox. Laser hair removal, chemical peels, tattooed makeup, hormone injections, even acupuncture can be found on a MedSpa service menu. Driven by profit and innovation, such break-neck expansion has grabbed the attention of federal and state regulators. As healthcare providers, MedSpas are held accountable to the same standards as any other medical establishment, including those pertaining to the management of their regulated medical waste. The complexity of these wastes varies depending upon the service offerings, but ultimately all MedSpas will generate ample sharps-category waste. Physicians, nurses, and estheticians are all responsible for knowing how to segregate and strategically dispose of their sharps, medications and other wastes according to OSHA, FDA, CDC, and state-level regulations for the protection of their employees, clients, and the environment. Membership with the American Med Spa Association provides a convenient listing of relevant state-by-state regulations, where applicable. Training and licensing programs also publish standards to help guide hazard reduction strategies and infection control protocols. MedSpas & OSHA As required by OSHA, MedSpas are responsible for establishing clinical control measures to ensure a safe working environment. This includes exposure control plans, HazCom training, and record-keeping of needlestick incidents, to name a few. Keep your MedSpa safe and compliant with Sharps Compliance’s interactive ComplianceTrac platform, which offers BBP training, personalized safety plans, and other features designed to fulfill all standard OSHA requirements for healthcare providers. MedSpa Sharps Disposal HIPAA and most states’ solid waste regulations are concerned with the proper handling, storage, and treatment of medical waste, which can prove harmful to patients, personnel, and waste handlers if poorly managed. Sharps Compliance’s customers enjoy complimentary online tools to help maintain compliance with these requirements through their interactive SharpsTracer account, which provides convenient real-time tracking, electronic manifests, and treatment receipts. Universal Precautions established by the CDC are designed to prevent the risk of infection by requiring healthcare service providers to treat all patients as potentially capable of transmitting infectious disease. OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard requires the use of fresh, single-use disposable examination gloves when administering any medical treatment as well as when handling soiled instruments. All injectable, therapeutic, and cosmetic procedures involving sharp instruments must follow the FDA’s requirements for the safe handling and disposal of sharps: Upon completion of the procedure, empty or near-empty needles and related sharps must be directly deposited into an easily accessible, approved sharps container located at eye level. Containers must be comprised of rigid, puncture-proof material and securely affixed with a lid. Remove container from service once three-fourths full Sharps offers a wide variety of regulated medical waste solutions to accommodate your facility’s workflow. The 20-Gallon TakeAway Recovery System includes prepaid shipping, packing materials, and four 2-gallon sharps containers to distribute across patient rooms and consolidate infectious waste. Use our specially designed mounting brackets to keep sharps elevated and your work surfaces uncluttered. MedSpa Pharmaceutical Waste Syringes and glass vials containing non-hazardous pharmaceuticals like Botox and Dysport can be discarded only if the sharps container’s entire contents do not exceed 50 mL of liquid. Sharps Compliance recommends operators eject the residual contents of these medications into absorbent material and toss into a red bag (always consult your state’s regulations first). Or, save yourself the guesswork and discard those multi-dose vials via our 10-Gallon TakeAway Environmental Return System. Remember that disposal of all pharmaceuticals requires careful consideration of their schedule and hazard classifications as well as how they are administered. Sharps customers enjoy complimentary, tailored guidance on these matters through our Regulatory Compliance Team. Compliant. Convenient. Comprehensive. With 25 years’ experience in medical waste compliance, Sharps Compliance has affordable solutions for all of your MedSpa’s regulated medical and pharmaceutical waste needs. Contact us to learn more! Read More
September 25, 2019 Proper Disposal of Dental-Related Wastes Protects Staff, Patients, and the Environment Last updated on October 28, 2019 Like all medical offices, a dental practice generates medical wastes that require careful handling and disposal. Each type of dental waste is governed by specific state and federal regulations. Regulatory non-compliance can result in large fines, so it’s important to understand the requirements. Compliance is more than a financial issue, however. Improper handling and disposal of waste can spread disease and put employees and the public at risk. Proper handling and disposal help you reduce workplace injuries, control costs, and protect the public and environment from harmful substances. Sharps Compliance offers an affordable, convenient selection of disposal solutions for each waste stream. Disposal of Dental Carpules and Other Dental Sharps Are used dental anesthetic carpules classified as medical waste? It depends on several factors. Contains visible blood: The carpule is classified as sharps medical waste and must be placed in a sharps container. Empty, unbroken, no traces of blood or anesthetic: In some states, these carpules can be placed in regular trash but may break during handling/disposal and present a danger. Disposal depends on each state’s definition of a medical sharp and whether they consider any glass, broken or unbroken, to be a sharp. Broken carpules, no traces of blood or anesthetic: Some states require incineration, so check your state’s regulations regarding disposal and transport to a medical waste treatment facility for proper disposal. Carpules containing residual anesthetic: These are considered pharmaceutical waste and must be labeled as such and transported to a medical waste facility for proper treatment. Some states have special guidelines for evaluating pharmaceutical wastes. Always check your state’s requirements. States regulate carpule disposal, and regulations change over time. Make sure you understand the requirements and are following the most current guidelines. Other dental sharps that require disposal in sharps containers include: Endo files Needles, including sutures, and IV needles Ortho wires Scalpel blades Sharps Compliance provides your busy office with dental sharps disposal options that combine affordability with convenience and regulatory compliance. Our biohazard mailback systems include a primary collection container, prepaid return shipping in a sturdy shipping box, a waste manifest tracking form, and instructions for use. They provide complete cradle-to-grave compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. TakeAway Recovery Systems offer small quantity generators a cost-effective treatment solution for used sharps and healthcare wastes. TakeAway Environmental Return Systems are the ideal solution for disposal of unused, non-controlled medications and used dental carpules with trace anesthetic (without blood). Our TakeAway systems come in a variety of sizes and configurations. Contact us for help selecting the best option for your practice. Dental Red Bag Waste Dental practices also generate small quantities of non-sharp regulated medical wastes (RMW) which must also be handled according to regulatory guidelines. “Red bag” waste could include items that can potentially spread bloodborne pathogens, such as: Materials saturated with blood or OPIM OPIM or blood-soaked personal protective equipment Items caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) and capable of releasing during handling Because these items carry the risk of infection, staff must be thoroughly trained on the proper handling and disposal of red bag items. That training provides a double benefit: it protects health and safety by separating potentially infectious wastes from other trash. Additionally, since it’s more expensive to dispose of RMW than it is to dispose of regular trash, it’s important that staff is properly trained on what goes into the red biohazard container – and what does not. Because dental practices generate so little red bag waste, Sharps Compliance offers a cost-effective way to dispose of it using our 20-gallon TakeAway Recovery System. The waste can be placed in the same 20-gallon container as the used sharps containers. Offices that purchase multipacks of sharps containers can use the 5-gallon Medical Professional Pail to dispose of the tied, individual red bags. Disposal of Dental Amalgam Waste The use of amalgam separators to prevent amalgam from discharging into publicly owned treatment works (POTWS) will soon be mandatory. The EPA amalgam separator rule becomes effective as of July 14, 2020 for all existing and new dental practices. An amalgam – commonly called a “silver filling” – is an alloy composed of liquid mercury, tin, copper, and silver. When dentists either place or remove amalgam fillings without discharge safeguards, mercury can be released into the wastewater stream. According to the EPA, “studieshave shown that dental offices are the largest source of mercury discharges to POTWs, contributing about half of the mercury received by POTWs.” The resulting compounds are highly toxic, particularly to infants and children. Once a dental practice installs a compliant amalgam separator, it needs to employ a compliant recycling program to manage the separator and collected mercury. Sharps Compliance’s 5-gallon Dental Amalgam Recycling System contains two pails. The small inner pail is lined with a silver foil bag for small amounts of amalgam-containing items that have come in contact with blood and saliva, sludge from filters, and teeth with amalgam. Use the outer pail to safely recycle other dental materials like lead foils, non-contact amalgam, old radiographs, containerized x-ray fixer, and used lead aprons. The system provides collection and shipment for recycling through UPS. Single-Use Device Recycling Nearly every dental procedure will result in the disposal of single-use devices (SUDs). Prophylaxis angles, impression trays, and dental burs are just a few such disposable items. SUDs are typically not designed to be reprocessed as the materials are difficult to disinfect and sterilize. If bloodied during intraoperative work, SUDs might have to be disposed of as regulated medical waste. Alternately, most dental SUDs can be recycled via TakeAway Recycle Systems, which decrease the burden on your local landfill and streamline the disposal process of all your SUDs, regardless of the level of contamination. Additionally, once instruments have reached their end-of-useful-life, they too may be recycled via the TakeAway Recycle System. Once processed and treated at our disposal facility, a Certificate of Recycling as well as Sustainability Reports are provided via your SharpsTracer account. Handling Waste in Your Dental Office Every medical professional must take waste disposal seriously because regulators do. For example, New Jersey legislators passed a bill in 2012 that said medical professionals who illegally dispose of medical waste could lose their licenses. Still, in a busy dental practice, compliance can feel like an overwhelming task. Let Sharps Compliance help. ComplianceTrac is an online compliance and training management system. Training: Employees have access to in-depth training videos allowing them to train on their own schedule and receive instant certification. Training subjects include OSHA bloodborne pathogen, HazCom, Medicare, HIPAA, and others. Safety Data Sheets (MSDS/SDS): ComplianceTrac offers a database of thousands of safety data sheets where you can create individualized lists of SDSs specific to your facility along with the required corresponding Chemical Inventory List. Safety plans: Develop customized OSHA required safety plans for your office using the fill-in-the-blank plans in ComplianceTrac. Workplace audits: With ComplianceTrac, perform regular workplace audits, assign corrective action to individuals, and generate reports showing audit results as well as the status of corrective measures taken. SharpsTracer helps you track and verify the receipt and treatment of returned waste. It helps avoid paperwork errors by eliminating the need for paper-based manifest tracking and on-site paper document storage. Contact Sharps Compliance to learn more about our medical and pharmaceutical waste collection and treatment solutions for your dental practice. Read More
July 19, 2019 Recycling Single-Use Medical Devices with the TakeAway Recycle System Do you know that hospital acquired infections (HAIs) can have a direct correlation to reprocessed medical devices according to a Johns Hopkins study published in October 2018?1 Have you read that The ECRI Institute, an independent and trusted authority on healthcare practices and products that improve the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of patient care, listed “Mishandling Flexible Endoscopes after Disinfection Can Lead to Patient Infections” with an emphasis on reprocessing on the “2019 Top 10 Health Technology Hazards”?2 Healthcare facilities are becoming more concerned about reprocessing single-use devices (SUDs) which are devices intended for one-time use on a single patient during a single procedure. A safety communication issued by the FDA in April 2019 outlined issues regarding physical defects, performance issues, and improper decontamination associated with reprocessing of SUDs.3 Patient-centered care and accountability, cost-savings, and environmental concerns have led to the practice of recycling SUDs. With recycling, HAIs related to reprocessing of SUDs may be eliminated, the carbon footprint will be decreased, and the environment will not be burdened from medical devices being disposed of in landfills. Your SUD recycling partner is Sharps Compliance. Sharps offers the TakeAway Recycle System for the safe collection, storage, transport, and recycling of SUDs. This cost-effective solution allows organizations to reduce risk while addressing environmental concerns. Almost all single-use medical devices are composed of materials that can be recycled so the TakeAway Recycle System ensures that all of the collected materials are recycled down to their basic commodities. SUDs that are normally destined for reprocessing, the landfill, or treatment as medical waste are collected from multiple healthcare facilities and departments, i.e., the sterile processing department, and then shipped to Sharps by common carrier for recycling. The TakeAway Recycle System helps your healthcare facility avoid potential fines and citations by controlling potential infection caused by reprocessed SUDs. It also saves your organization’s bottom line by eliminating the costs and pitfalls of reprocessed SUDs. The TakeAway Recycle System is compliant with OSHA and DOT and complements your sustainability initiatives. 1 – Endoscopy-related infections found higher than expected, prophylaxis overused 2 – 2019 Top 10 Health Technology Hazards 3 – The FDA Continues to Remind Facilities of the Importance of Following Duodenoscope Reprocessing Instructions: FDA Safety Communication Read More
March 27, 2019 How MedSafe & TakeAway Systems Support Sustainable, Safe Drug Disposal In 2008, public health officials were startled when water quality studies found that 46 million Americans had trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. They noted that many localities didn’t test drinking water for pharmaceutical residues, so even more people could potentially be affected. These findings led to calls for more testing, public education, and safer, more secure drug disposal options. Sharps Compliance is a leader in this effort. Our drug collection systems – MedSafe collection kiosks and TakeAway Medication Recovery System envelopes – offer ultimate users the convenience of authorized collection, DOT-permitted return transportation, and proper destruction. Improper Drug Disposal Endangers Public Health & Environment Anyone who has ever taken a pre-employment drug test knows that trace amounts of drugs can be excreted in urine. That may seem like an amount too small to make a difference, but prescription drug use is rising sharply in the US as the population ages. The number of prescriptions filled rose 85% between 1997 and 2016, to 4.5 billion individual prescriptions. Many households still flush unused/unwanted medicines down the toilet, which sends them full-strength into the water treatment system. This is not the ideal disposal method: the Food and Drug Administration now recommends that only 13 medications (mostly opioids) be flushed down the toilet, and then only if no safe disposal option is readily available. Drugs disposed in household trash may be stolen or accidentally poison children and pets. If the medications make it to the landfill, they may contaminate groundwater. A US Geological Survey of 22 landfills found that landfill leachate was contained with pharmaceutical residues including amounts of anesthetics, muscle relaxants, and anticonvulsants. Water contamination can have serious effects on wildlife and the environment: Antidepressants in water are “changing the behavior of wild animals.” Cocaine contamination in the Caribbean Sea is damaging the Great Maya Reef. Researchers are concerned that pharmaceutical and other chemical residues in water could be causing reproductive changes in fish after studies found a high number of male smallmouth bass had female egg cells growing in their testes. Local governments, health experts, law enforcement, and others are working together to educate the public and provide safe, affordable drug disposal options. Sharps Compliance is an industry leader in that effort. TakeAway Medication Recovery Systems We introduced our TakeAway Medication Recovery Systems in 2009 as a convenient way for ultimate users to immediately dispose of unwanted or unused medications. The TakeAway containers are an affordable DEA-compliant option for disposal of most medications: Over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, such as sleep aids and analgesics Non-controlled prescription drugs like antibiotics and allergy medications Controlled medications – Schedules II-V only (no Schedule I) Simply follow the instructions with the container and return it to Sharps Compliance via US mail or UPS for safe, secure disposal and destruction. MedSafe Drug Collection Kiosks Since 2014, Sharps Compliance has partnered with many stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, retail pharmacies, and healthcare facilities, to place MedSafe drug disposal kiosks across the country. As of December 2018, ultimate users had deposited over one million pounds of unused/unwanted drugs into MedSafe kiosks. MedSafe is a comprehensive medication collection and disposal solution that meets the requirements of the DEA Controlled Substances Final Rule. The secure kiosks come in two sizes and help ultimate users safely dispose of both controlled (Schedules II – V only) and non-controlled pharmaceuticals. Ultimate users can bring unwanted medications to the kiosks and deposit them at no cost, without waiting for a community drug take-back event. Safe, Sustainable Disposal Via Incineration Sharps Compliance is an industry leader in our approach to environmental sustainability. We strive to be a zero-landfill company. For example, when medical waste is sent to our treatment facilities, it undergoes a process to render it harmless before it’s converted into energy. Our patented Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Conversion Process helps divert waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are just as committed to the safe, sustainable disposal of pharmaceuticals. The 2014 DEA Disposal of Controlled Substances Final Rule required that an authorized collector manage the collection and transportation of ultimate-user medications via a returnable inner liner system. After drugs are collected, DEA requires that drugs must be treated to render them non-retrievable. The EPA cites incineration as the safest and most effective way to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals. High-temperature incineration meets both DEA requirements and EPA recommendations. Pharmaceutical incineration in a WtE facility is a win-win for the environment. It diverts potentially dangerous drug waste from landfills and turns it into clean energy. Sharps Compliance’s patented inner liner solutions allow waste-to-energy conversions from safely disposed of pharmaceuticals. MedSafe is a complete solution that helps generate renewable energy and remove ultimate-user medications from the waste stream. When ultimate users deposit unwanted pharmaceuticals into MedSafe kiosks, they’re helping protect their families, communities, and the environment. Contact us today at 800.772.5657 to learn how we can help you safely dispose of unused/unwanted pharmaceuticals. Read More
March 13, 2019 Six Essential Services a Regulated Medical Waste Disposal Provider Should Provide Regulated medical waste (RMW) disposal companies help medical waste generators manage all aspects of medical waste handling and disposal, including cradle-to-grave tracking. They may also assist with documentation management, regulatory compliance, internal compliance audits, OSHA-required training, and sustainability. Does your current RMW disposal company provide all this – and more? Sharps Compliance does. 1. Monitor State and Federal Medical Waste Disposal Regulations With over 20 years of experience in the field of biohazardous waste disposal, Sharps’ medical waste management experts can develop a customized program for your organization. We comply with federal, state, and local regulations regarding the processing, containment, labeling, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of regulated medical waste. 2. Online, Real-Time Tracking of RMW Shipments Sharps offers two waste transportation options: mailback disposal systems and medical waste pickup service for higher volume waste generators. All mailback disposal systems include the required manifest/tracking documents and have unique serial numbers for tracking. Waste pickup service customers receive the same regulatory compliance services that comply with DOT standards, waste treatment, and documentation We ensure cradle-to-grave compliance and real-time visibility through our SharpsTracer system, an online tracking/manifesting system that eliminates the need for paper documentation. With SharpsTracer, customers have 24/7 access to their manifests and can verify the weights, return dates, and proof of destruction for all shipments handled by Sharps Compliance. 3. Safety & Compliance Training for Your Staff Sharps Compliance offers its customers ComplianceTrac, our online OSHA compliance management system, complete with OSHA-required trainings, such as bloodborne pathogen standards, fire safety, and electrical safety. ComplianceTrac also offers modules that satisfy the federal training requirements for HIPAA, DOT packaging and shipping requirements for regulated medical waste, and Medicare. ComplianceTrac is available 24/7, so your staff can choose the most convenient training times. In addition, employers have access to pre-developed OSHA safety plans and internal compliance audits. We offer tools that help you create a safer, more compliant workplace – and control costs. Educate employees about needlestick injuries and how to avoid them. These types of injuries can cause lost time on the job, increase medical costs, and hurt employee morale Manage disposal costs through proper segregation of wastes using our provided waste segregation posters containing information based on OSHA and your own organization’s guidelines. Decrease the chance of regulatory fines and penalties through staff training and increased understanding of compliance requirements. 4. Help You Comply with State and Federal Regulations Regulatory inspectors rarely call ahead. You must always be prepared for an inspection, maintain the proper paperwork, and follow state and federal requirements. Our online regulatory database called “The Hub” can help. The Hub is a repository of federal, state, and local regulations. It’s updated on an as-needed basis as well as reviewed annually. We review all regulatory and legal documents and changes. When necessary, we also speak directly with each state’s waste disposal experts and regulators to clarify regulations and help customers comply. As previously mentioned, customers can use ComplianceTrac to conduct internal test audits and evaluate their organization’s compliance. The report highlights any areas found to be “not in compliance” and offers the option to assign corrective actions to specific individuals or departments. Learn more about how ComplianceTrac can help your organization be ready for OSHA inspections. 5. Dedicated Customer Service All Sharps Compliance national accounts have an assigned, dedicated account manager who is available 24/7. All customers have access to our trained Customer Support team, which is available Monday through Friday to provide answers quickly and accurately. Reach them by phone, fax, or online chat from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. 6. Environmentally-Responsible Solutions Sharps Compliance strives to be a zero landfill company. We pioneered and patented a waste conversion process that repurposes medical waste, including used sharps. We avoid the hazards of landfill disposal by treating wastes and turning them into new resources, such as electricity. Our company is committed to the environmentally responsible treatment of medical and pharmaceutical waste. We incinerate all pharmaceutical waste sent to us for treatment, in accordance with DEA recommendations. To date, we’ve used our network of MedSafe pharmaceutical collection kiosks to safely dispose of a million pounds of unwanted pharmaceuticals, helping to keep potentially dangerous drugs out of our communities and landfills. The TakeAway Recycle System allows healthcare facilities to divert certain single-use medical devices (SUD) from the landfill. Waste generators use the collection containers to store and transport SUDs for recycling. This cost-effective, environmentally-friendly solution helps reduce the waste stream and eliminate SUD reprocessing costs. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your facility safely and effectively manage your medical waste management and disposal needs. Read More
February 27, 2019 Veterinarians, Pet Medications, and the Opioid Crisis Last updated on April 13, 2021 Ninety-five percent of pet owners say they consider pets a part of the family, but there’s a darker side to some of those families. Sadly, as in so many human families, drug addiction is breaking the bonds of affection and trust. Veterinarians have reported cases where opioid addiction is leading pet owners to steal their pets’ medications or even injure their pets in an effort to get pain meds prescribed. As a result, many veterinarians unexpectedly find themselves involved in a human epidemic – the opioid crisis. According to the CDC, 46 people die every day from prescription opioid overdoses, and pet medications play a role. Abusers Look to Pet Medications as an “Easier” Source for Drugs In 2017, Blue Cross Blue Shield analyzed the claims of over 30 million people and found that diagnoses of opioid-use disorder had increased by almost 500% in just 7 years. The study also found that prescription strength and duration affected the chance of opioid-use disorder. As evidence mounted that over-prescribing opioids was contributing to increasing rates of addiction and death, many states imposed restrictions on physicians and pharmacists. When that happened, it became more difficult to get and fill opioid prescriptions for humans. That made pet medications an attractive alternative for some abusers. In 2018, an editorial in the American Journal of Public Health cited a survey of Colorado veterinarians and urged the profession to accept that they “have a dog in the fight” against opioid abuse. “Key findings include the following: 13% of surveyed veterinarians were aware that an animal owner had intentionally made an animal ill, injured an animal, or made an animal seem ill or injured to obtain opioid medications; 44% were aware of opioid abuse or misuse by either a client or a veterinary practice staff member; and 12% were aware of veterinary staff opioid abuse and diversion.” One of the more shocking aspects of pet medication abuse is how far people will go to obtain the medications. A woman in Kentucky cut her golden retriever with a razor and took him to the same vet three times for pain meds. The doctor became suspicious because the cuts “looked like clean cuts instead of the jaggedness that you might see in most animal injuries,” and the woman asked for a medication by name. An Ohio man taught his dog to cough on cue in an effort to obtain hydrocodone prescriptions. A Connecticut man was charged with animal cruelty, illegally obtaining drugs, and “doctor shopping” after he took two injured dogs to multiple vets to obtain pain pills for himself. The problem has become so prevalent that government agencies and professional organizations are working to educate veterinarians about the dangers to their patients and the community. FDA Warnings and State Regulations In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned veterinarians about possible misuse of pet medications and offered information resource links and advice to doctors who “stock and administer opioids.” Follow all state regulations. Use alternatives when possible. Educate pet owners on proper storage and disposal. Know what to do in case of overdose. Have a safety plan and learn the signs of opioid abuse. In response to the epidemic, many states have implemented reporting and prescription control regulations for opioids prescribed to humans. Increasingly, the FDA noted, states are regulating veterinarians as well. “According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, fifteen states and the District of Columbia currently have regulations requiring veterinarians to report when they dispense opioids and other controlled substances to patients: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington state, and West Virginia. Thirty-four states, however, exempt veterinarians from Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. Not only are states changing reporting requirements, some are also setting limits on the number of pills that can be prescribed at one time and some are even limiting the duration of a patient’s treatment with opioids. States such as Colorado and Maine require veterinarians to look at a pet owner’s past medication history before dispensing opioids or writing an opioid prescription.” The requirement to check a pet owner’s medication history is a source of controversy among veterinarians. There’s a cost concern, but many doctors also cite the ethical issues involved with checking the medical history of a non-patient. Dr. Amanda Bison, legislative chair of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association explained: “We are not allowed to treat humans and therefore should not have anything to do with their medical information.” How Veterinary Practices Can Respond to Opioid Abuse While state veterinary associations and state regulators work to develop effective laws and regulations, individual veterinary practices should be proactive. Control access inside the clinic. Drugs must be inaccessible to non-authorized personnel. Employees may steal them to sell or use themselves. Vet clinics have also been targeted by burglars looking for drugs. Be alert to signs of staff drug abuse. Warning signs include mood swings, mental confusion, frequent mistakes, and absenteeism. Learn to recognize client warning signs. These include asking for a particular drug by name, requesting early refills, and avoiding bringing the animal in for a physical exam. Review AVMA resources. The AVMA offers charts, white papers, and printable educational materials to help doctors understand reporting requirements, educate their staff, and prevent drug diversion. It’s also important to educate staff and patients about safe medication disposal options. Many people don’t understand the dangers of improper disposal of medical and pharmaceutical wastes. Drugs stored at home or thrown out in household garbage may be retrieved and misused. Medications flushed down the drain or dumped in landfills can also cause both physical and environmental harm. Sharps Compliance offers DEA-compliant, safe drug disposal solutions for clinics and end-users. These offer immediate disposal of unwanted/unused medications and eliminate the need to wait for a community Drug Take Back Day event. TakeAway Medication Recovery Systems are designed for clinics and ultimate users. They meet the DEA rules for controlled substance disposal by ultimate users. MedSafe Medication Disposal System kiosks can be found in many retail pharmacies and other health care facilities. The North Dakota Board of Pharmacy partnered with Sharps in 2017 to place MedSafe kiosks in retail pharmacies throughout the state. Learn more about Sharps Compliance’s affordable, DEA-compliant medication disposal solutions. Read More
January 30, 2019 Safe Needle Disposal Helps Protect Public from Needlestick Injuries Last updated on April 2, 2021 The number of Americans self-injecting drugs outside healthcare settings increases each year. A 2015 study by Zion Research estimated that the global injectable drug market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.8% between 2016-2021. Many patients need to inject medications when away from home but lack access to safe disposal options. Sharps Compliance Needle Collection and Disposal Systems help local governments and private businesses protect the public and employees from needlestick injuries. Improper Disposal Increases Danger of Needlestick Injuries A 2011 report from the Coalition for Community Needle Disposal found that the number of needles disposed of outside healthcare settings tripled between 2000 and 2010. As of 2011, 13.5 million Americans were discarding 7.8 billion used needles. Even now, too many of these used needles go into household trash or public trash bins, which endangers the public and workers who handle the waste. Recent avoidable injuries include: February 2018: A Seattle library custodian was stuck by a discarded needle as he emptied trash containers. July 2018: Cal-OSHA fined the Department of General Services for failing to provide proper training after several groundskeepers received needlestick injuries. August 2018: A customer at a New Mexico Walmart was stuck by a discarded needle in the store’s bathroom. October 2018: A Seattle police officer stepped on a discarded syringe in a public park. November 2018: A student in Roxbury, MA was pricked by a needle on the playground during recess. The Need for Safe Needle Collection & Disposal Systems As needlestick injuries to the general public, as well as custodial and solid waste workers, increase, many governments and private businesses are looking for solutions to protect employees and the public. For example, Philadelphia placed needle drop boxes in some public parks and transit stations as part of the Mayor’s opioid “disaster declaration.” Similarly, Starbucks began exploring options for safe needle disposal after employees were injured by sharps discarded in restroom trash bins. Starbucks said in its statement it is considering installing sharps containers, FDA-cleared boxes that according to the agency are made from “rigid plastic” and “help reduce the risk of injury and infections from sharps.” Accidental needlesticks can expose people to dangerous bloodborne pathogens, including HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Because of the danger, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidelines for anyone who experiences a needlestick or sharps injury: Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants Report the incident to your supervisor Immediately seek medical treatment Safe disposal options can also help avoid the medical and liability costs that result from needlestick injuries. Medical & Liability Costs from Needlestick Injuries Needlestick injuries aren’t just dangerous – they’re also expensive! A 2016 study of injuries to workers in materials recycling facilities found that workplace injuries could total as much as $2.25 million in direct medical care costs. Another study found that individual costs from an accidental needlestick range from several hundred to over a thousand dollars. Liability costs can be a lot higher. For example, Target Corporation is currently appealing a $4.6 million jury award to a customer who was stuck by a discarded needle in the store’s parking lot. Court records obtained by the Anderson Independent-Mail said Carla Garrison’s lawyer asked Target for $12,000 and the retail chain offered her $750. Garrison says her 8-year-old daughter found the needle in the parking lot of a Target in Anderson in May 2014, and Garrison was pricked when she knocked it out of the child’s hand. In April 2018, an Albuquerque, NM, woman sued her son’s school after he was poked by a discarded needle on the playground and the school failed to notify her. Sharps Compliance offers safe, affordable sharps disposal systems for public places. Our Sharps Secure system feature lockable wall containers designed for use with Sharps Recovery System sharps containers. Once the sharps container is full, simply package it in the prepaid mailing box for USPS shipping. They’re easy to use and help protect your employees and customers from needlestick injuries. Read More
October 3, 2018 Travel-Size Sharps Tubes Protect Us While on the Go Last updated on January 21, 2021 Travel is stressful enough already. Add the challenge of used sharps disposal on a plane, bus, or secluded mountaintop and… Wait, that’s not stressful at all! Our travel-size sharps tubes go where you go and are there when you need them. They’re a portable, compact, secure, and affordable way to safely contain your used syringes and other sharps waste while traveling or even when out shopping. Here’s how they work: Carry a travel-size sharps tube in your backpack, purse, or briefcase. After you self-inject or test your blood, place the used sharp in the travel tube. Dispose of the entire sharps travel tube at a safe location – a sharps collection kiosk, disposal container at an airport or other public restroom, or in a home sharps disposal container (like our Sharps Recovery Systems). The travel tubes are designed for one-time use, to reduce the possibility of accidental needle sticks. For safety, once the lid is locked, it can’t be reopened. Dispose of the tube either in a larger sharps disposal container or as you would any other sharps container. Preferably, do not throw the tube in the regular trash since many states do not allow such disposal even by home users. Check with your state for proper disposal of home-generated sharps containers. Sharps Transport Tubes Are FDA-Cleared and OSHA-Compliant The FDA recommends that used sharps be “immediately placed in a sharps disposal container.” Our transport tubes are FDA-cleared and made of puncture-resistant plastic with a tight-fitting cover. Unused syringes are allowed in carry-on luggage – with restrictions, according to TSA: “Unused syringes are allowed when accompanied by injectable medication. You must declare these items to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection. We recommend, but do not require, that your medications be labeled to facilitate the security process.” If you carry unused syringes or sharps on planes and expect to use them while in transit, be sure to follow TSA guidelines for used sharps in carry-on luggage. “Used syringes are allowed when transported in Sharps disposal container or other similar hard-surface container.” Our travel-size sharps tubes meet FDA and TSA requirements. They come in cases of 7 tubes so that you won’t run short unexpectedly. Remember that TSA may require special screening for sharps and medication. Consider keeping your medications and supplies easily accessible for easier screening through airport security. Who Should Carry A Sharps Tube? Transport tubes can be used on the job by trained employees in addition to providing sharps disposal containers in restrooms for use by self-injectors. Sharps are also found on playgrounds and other public places. The travel-size sharps tube is an easy-to-use sharps collection container for city workers and police officers working in the field who have been instructed in syringe containment and removal. Unfortunately, you never know when you’re going to run across a discarded sharp, and the problem could grow over time. So if you find a discarded sharp, notify building management or the police if in a public place. Researchers at the University of Southern California believe that the opioid epidemic will lead to an increase in abuse of injectable drugs: “The prescription opioid epidemic is creating a heroin epidemic, which will create an injection drug use epidemic,” Bluthenthal said. “We’ve seen the first two. Now we’re waiting to see the last emerge on the national level. I predict we’ll see an uptick in injection-related diseases over the next couple of years.” More Tips for Traveling With Sharps FDA: safely using sharps at home, at work, & during travel TSA: travel tips for travelers with disabilities or other medical conditions Mayo Clinic: diabetes and travel National Multiple Sclerosis Society: a doctor’s travel tips Read More
June 27, 2018 Part One: What’s Going into That Red Biohazard Bag? Last updated on May 5, 2021 This is an update of the article originally published on September 5, 2013. Reducing Your Medical Waste Through RightClassificationSM – A Three Part Series Decades after the Medical Waste Tracking Act prompted the passing of state medical waste regulations, red biohazard bags are still being filled with trash. Granted, we seldom see pizza boxes or drink cans in red bags anymore, but we still see trash, such as dressings, gauze, gloves, test strips, urine cups, empty medication vials, table and tray covers, device packaging, tubing, pads, and adults diapers. Proper waste segregation (RightClassification℠) is crucial to assure proper containment and disposal of trash, regulated medical waste (RMW), and hazardous waste. Many reasons are given as to why these items end up in red biohazard bags, including: “It’s too hard for our clinicians to decide what medical waste is and what it is not!” “Our medical waste company said it has to go in there – or, they never said it shouldn’t!” “We have red bags and no trash cans in rooms – so there is nowhere else to put the trash!” “It’s the patients who put trash in the red bags!” “We train about proper waste segregation, but our employees just don’t do it!” “Our policy says items soaked with ‘body fluids’ must go into a red bag!” What is the definition of regulated medical waste? Medical waste becomes regulated when it contains enough blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM*) to potentially spread bloodborne pathogens. Therefore, if there is not enough contamination with blood OPIM, it is not a regulated medical waste. This definition has been taught to employees for over 20 years as a part of their bloodborne pathogens (BBP) training. Yet when it comes to putting this training into practice, it’s often as if the definition has never been heard. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines RMW in its BBP Standard as follows: Liquid or semi-liquid blood or OPIM, this includes: Blood in blood tubes, blood or OPIM in suction canisters Contaminated items that would release blood or OPIM in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed, this includes: Blood-soaked gauze Items that are caked with dried blood or OPIM and are capable of releasing these materials during handling, this includes: Blood-soaked gauze that has dried and the blood could flake off Bloody gloves or other items that have not absorbed the blood Contaminated sharps, including: Needles, syringes with needles attached, scalpels, dental carpules with blood in them Pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or OPIM *Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM) means (1) The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids; (2) Any unfixed human tissue or organ from a human. Note: Urine and feces, among other body fluids not listed above, are NOT OPIM, and therefore, items contaminated with any amount of these body fluids do not carry enough BBP to be considered RMW. In spite of the definition of RMW, some facilities still believe they must dispose of all items that have been merely “contaminated” with blood or OPIM as RMW, regardless of the amount of contamination. OSHA and state and local regulations do not require this. OSHA uses the term “contaminated” or “potentially contaminated” to refer to anything that has or could have any amount of blood or OPIM on it. “Contaminated” is NOT necessarily the same as “regulated.” Items that are simply contaminated with small absorbed amounts of blood or OPIM may be placed in a regular plastic-lined trash container. What is an inspector looking for? In order for inspectors to interpret the regulations as intended, OSHA provides compliance directives for its standards. The current federal compliance directive for the BBP Standard is CPL 02-02-069. Taken directly from CPL 02-02-069: “The compliance officer should not use the actual volume of blood to determine whether or not a particular material is to be considered regulated waste, since 10 ml of blood on a disposable bed sheet would appear as a spot (not regulated waste) while the same amount of blood on a cotton ball would likely cause saturation and dripping (regulated waste). Instead, the compliance officer should consider the potential for generation of bulk blood (i.e., through dripping or flaking off of material that may contain either blood or OPIM). Note: employees must handle items contaminated with ANY amount of blood or OPIM using Universal Precautions; the definition of regulated medical waste refers to how much blood or OPIM that item contains in order to decide if it should be discarded in the regular plastic-lined trash container, or the red-bag lined regulated medical waste container.” Part 2 of this series will talk about state disposal regulations and how to properly segregate, contain, and dispose of RMW. Part 3 will discuss how to reduce medical waste through RightClassification. For more information on Sharps Compliance’s medical waste solutions, click here. Read More
May 16, 2018 Retail Pharmacies Implementing Safe Sharps Disposal Programs As Vaccination Rates Rise Last updated on January 24, 2019 In the United States, approximately 50,000 adults die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. The immunization shortfall has multiple causes, but health experts agree that leveraging “non-traditional sites of vaccination delivery” can help overcome barriers to care. Retail pharmacies play an important role in this effort. Between 2007 and 2013, the number of vaccinations dispensed by community pharmacies rose from 3.2 million to 20.9 million. There’s room to grow: by November of 2017, only 38.5% of adults 18 and older had received a flu vaccine. The 2017/2018 flu season was the worst in a decade, which may encourage many people to get their flu shots early this year. Each injection produces sharps waste: syringes and often medication vials that must be safely collected, stored, transported, and treated. Pharmacies need to be ready to handle an influx of new patients – and the resulting challenge of safely managing their sharps waste. Safe Sharps Waste Disposal With the increased demand for immunizations, tests, and other services at community pharmacies, the resulting increased volume of sharps waste may catch some pharmacists off-guard. All pharmacies that administer vaccines or medical tests should take steps to protect both staff and patients from the risk of needlesticks. For example, sharps safety training for employees must be provided annually and among other topics, should include the following: Evaluation and use of syringes and other sharps with safety features Selection of FDA-approved sharps containers placed as close as possible to the point of use Methods to prevent over-filled sharps containers Safe handling, packaging, and transport of sharps containers The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health published a guideline for “Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Health Care Settings.” It notes that healthcare workers can help protect themselves and coworkers by disposing of used needles “promptly in appropriate sharps disposal containers.” Sharps Disposal Options for Retail Pharmacies Sharps Compliance offers mailback sharps disposal systems in multiple sizes and packaging configurations. For a retail pharmacy, mailback disposal systems provide both flexibility and affordability as the systems are only returned once full. This prevents the pharmacy from paying for partially filled transport boxes. Once the sharps container is filled, it is packaged in the prepaid shipping box according to included instructions and mailed. During the height of flu season, we recommend pharmacies keep at least two sharps mailback systems on hand so that when the first is shipped, the second can be ready for use. Sharps Compliance Mailback Containers: Convenient and Compliant Our UPS and USPS-authorized sharps disposal mailback systems are uniquely serialized for cradle-to-grave tracking and are compliant with local, state, and federal regulations. Disposal systems are available individually or in cost-saving multipacks in sizes ranging from one quart to three gallons. The sharps mailback systems include A primary sharps collection container All necessary packaging components for regulatory-compliant mailing Prepaid shipping box for easy return Waste manifest tracking form Full instructions for use Treatment and online documentation of treated waste Learn more about how our mailback systems work to safely manage your sharps disposal needs Contact us to learn more about how we help retail pharmacies comply with existing regulations and safely dispose of their sharps and other regulated wastes. Read More
