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For many years doctors’ offices and hospitals have strictly followed the biohazardous medical waste regulations but some veterinary facilities and practitioners seem not to be careful enough about this. Veterinarians!
Biohazardous waste in a veterinary setting is found in many of the same types of waste generated in human patient care. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Sharps – needles, scalpels, slides, lancets, etc., can carry and transmit infectious materials just as easily in animal care settings as they can in healthcare for humans.
- Solid waste – bandages, linens, towels, table draping, swabs; surgical gauze may contain infected blood or body fluids from an animal just like those used by a human doctor.
- Tissue or pathological waste – veterinary offices perform tissue biopsies/surgeries/amputations same as human physicians; such waste must be disposed of properly to prevent infection risks.
Look up the Environmental Protection Agency’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations. If you produce biohazardous waste at your veterinary facility or practice then you must comply with the Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste found in Part 262 of Title 40 CFR or Code of Federal Regulations.
Biohazard Waste for Veterinarians
It does not matter if biohazardous waste comes from humans or animals — it must still be disposed of safely. Understand federal & state regulations for veterinary practices; you might be surprised how many agencies are involved with your animal waste!
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
The American Veterinary Medical Association has more information on federal/state regulatory guidance for animal wastes too. OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standards apply equally to all healthcare facilities including hospitals-doctor’s offices-veterinary clinics so follow them avoid fines/penalties non-compliance.
Consequences of Improper Hazardous Waste Removal for Veterinarians
If a violation is found, then a veterinarian can be subject to the same punitive measures as any human medical facility. This means fines and even worse if you’ve been warned & haven’t fixed it yet. In the worst cases a vet could be shut down; fines are especially bad when financial margins are tight like they usually are at vets’ offices though.
Also know if there’s any federal or state requirements that need met which apply for a biohazard (hazardous) waste permit when materials are transported off-site destruction/disposal. Additionally guidelines will apply based on your state agencies regarding how long certain types of waste can be stored onsite before being disposed or destroyed.
Educate all healthcare professionals, ancillary staff, and general public about exposure to biohazardous waste in your facility – safety first.