COMPLIANCE INFO_2006-2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

C SAN JOAQUIN GENERAL- HOSPITAL- Department Administration Page 3 of 17 Effective Date December 2008 Date Replaces July 2007 Title of Policy/Procedure Hazardous Materials and Waste • Receives reports of evaluation of space and follow up action for handling storage of hazardous materials and wastes as determined in the hazard surveillance program. • Documents all deliberations, actions, and recommendations in the Safety Committee Meeting minutes. • Summarizes performance of the Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Program. Evaluates and recommends performance improvement standards. =0- The goals of the SJGH Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Program are: • Develop an operational strategy for managing hazardous materials and wastes generated in laboratories, facilities maintenance, construction operations, and all other departments within SJGH. • Establish consensus for policies and procedures that are practical to carry out, efficient, and cost-effective. • Promote excellence in environmental stewardship among SJGH employees. Radioactive, pharmaceutical, and infectious wastes are not subject to the requirements of this program. These wastes are managed according to the requirements of the Radiation Safety Program and the Medical Waste Program. Waste minimization is the preferred hazardous waste management practice. The goal of SJGH is to minimize to the extent practicable the volume and/or toxicity of hazardous waste that is generated. This section gives some general guidelines for the minimization of waste. • Review each procedure to assure that hazardous materials are used efficiently. • Purchase the smallest practical volumes; do not purchase excess volumes based on volumetric price incentives. • If possible, use substances that can be neutralized or stabilized either physically or chemically. • Use less hazardous substitutes when feasible. Waste that is nevertheless generated should be treated, stored, or disposed of so as to minimize the present and future threat to human health and the environment. The following sections describe requirements for identifying, labeling, storing, and handling hazardous waste. Identification and Classification of Hazardous Wastes. Chemical Waste Federal and State regulations define hazardous waste as a substance which poses a hazard to human health or the environment when improperly managed. A chemical waste is considered hazardous if it is either listed on one of the lists of hazardous wastes found in Federal or State regulations or exhibits one or more of the four characteristics listed below.