 |
 |
Archival Content: 1999-2005
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Archival Content: 1999-2005 |
|
|
||||||
Archive
|
|
Content Verified on: May 1, 2003
Regulatory Environment
Identified Community-based Disposal Initiatives
Disposing of contaminated medical waste, including needles, syringes, and other “sharps,” has become an important issue in public health policy. Waste generated in the health care system is highly regulated at the state and federal level. Hospitals and other health care facilities must follow special procedures for handling, transporting, and disposing of medical waste, including used needles that may contain blood. Facilities also have instituted strict safeguards to protect health care workers, housekeeping staff, sanitation workers, and waste haulers from needlesticks because of the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other bloodborne infections. Less attention has been paid to safe disposal of used syringes that come from individuals living in the community. However, as many as 3 billion syringes are used each year outside health care facilities: It is estimated that between 0.9 and 1.68 billion insulin injections and up to 1 billion illegal drug injections occur each year in the United States. After being used and discarded, most of these syringes end up in the public solid waste system. This presents a risk of needlestick injury and infection, mostly to solid waste workers. A much smaller number are discarded in public areas, such as parks, presenting a risk to the public. This section of CDC’s Community Syringe Disposal, Laws and Regulations, and the Public Health web site looks at the public health dimensions of this problem. It describes this state’s solid and infectious waste laws and regulations as they relate to syringe disposal. It provides background information on several key disposal options currently used in the U.S. and describes the impact of this state’s laws and regulations on the way that individuals may use these options. It also includes brief descriptions of some safe disposal programs in the state and provides contact information for the state’s public health and environmental management agencies. This web site is designed primarily for individuals and communities who are working to build safe syringe disposal programs and improve public understanding of this important issue. We hope that the information and tools provided here will help communities move closer to the ultimate goal of “no syringes discarded in the trash or in public locations such as parks, buildings, or the streets.”
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes guidance on its infectious waste web site under the heading “Home generated infectious waste disposal options.” The guidance recommends:
The Ohio EPA also publishes a fact sheet that expands
upon its published guidance. “Disposal
Tips for Household Generated Sharps”
1. Infectious Waste Law and Rule Summary Exempts individual and single families – Ohio’s infectious waste standards specifically exempt single family residences and any infectious waste, including used syringes , generated by individuals for their own care or treatment. Exempts individuals from meeting infectious waste transportation standards – Individuals may take their used sharps to a hospital without having to meet infectious waste transportation standards. Does not address community sharps container collection sites – Community sharps container collection sites are not specifically addressed by the rule. However, any facility that accepts sharps is considered an infectious waste generator under the Ohio standards. Allows small quantity generators to dispose of sharps in the trash – Facilities that generate fewer than 50 pounds of infectious waste per month (e.g., a physician’s office) must properly contain and label sharps in rigid, tightly-closed, puncture-resistant containers with the word “sharps” and the international biohazard symbol on the container. Once contained and labeled, they may be disposed in the trash. This practice may be restricted by local regulations. Law Rule Responsible Agency
Summary Sets requirements for collection sites when employees handle the sharps containers – Operators of sharps container collection sites in which employees physically accept and handle filled sharps containers from customers are required to meet the OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards. This involves developing a written Exposure Control Plan that identifies the frequency of exposure and the tasks and procedures in which exposure may occur. The Plan also must address methods of compliance, hepatitis B vaccination, hazard communication to employees, recordkeeping, and methods to evaluate exposure incidents. Sets requirements for collection sites when employees do not handle the sharps containers – Operators of sharps container collection sites in which customers place filled sharps containers into a collection container are not subject to the bloodborne pathogen standard. In this situation, employees must not handle the sharps containers. Those involved with removing the sharps containers from the collection container must meet the standard. Law Responsible Agency
Effect of Ohio’s Laws and Regulations The federal OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard discourages programs in which employees handle filled sharps containers from customers, and encourages programs in which employees do not have to handle filled containers because customers place them directly into a collection container.
Effect of Ohio’s Laws and Regulations
Effect of Ohio’s Laws and Regulations
Facilities that generate fewer than 50 pounds of infectious waste each month such as a physician’s office or a sharps collection site may dispose of their sharps in the trash, once properly contained and labeled. This is contrary to the purpose of collecting sharps for proper and safe disposal.
The state legislature and individual communities may wish to more actively encourage individuals to safely dispose of used syringes and make it easier for them to do so. Many options for state and local action exist. They range from gathering data, to developing community collection site programs and education efforts, to creating partnerships with interested groups, to considering amending laws and regulations. All will help Ohio move toward the goal of “no syringes discarded in the trash or public locations.”
Identified Sharps Container Collection Site Programs No sharps container collection site programs were identified in Ohio, although this does not mean that none exist in the state. Identified Syringe Exchange Programs [Ref 6] Free
Clinic of Greater Cleveland David
House
Links below will open in a new browser window. Infectious Waste Issues Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency Contact: Bloodborne Pathogen Issues U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) OSHA
Area Office Cleveland Area Office Columbus Area Office Toledo Area Office
Links below will open in a new browser window. 1. Ohio Solid and Hazardous (Infectious) Waste Laws – Revised Code of Ohio, Title 37 [Health – Safety – Morals], Chapter 3734 [Solid and Hazardous Waste] [On the left side of the screen, scroll to and click on “Title 37.” Scroll to and click on “Chapter 3734.”] 2. Ohio Solid and Infectious Waste Regulations – Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 3745 [Environmental Protection Agency – Administration and Director], Chapter 3745-27 [Solid and Infectious Waste Regulations] [On the left side of the screen, scroll to and click on “Chapter 3745.” Scroll to and click on “Chapter 3745-27”.] 3. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards – 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. 4. USPS Domestic Mail Manual [Click on “DMM Subject Index” then scroll to and click on “Sharps, CO23.85”] 5. Turnberg WL, Frost F. Survey of occupational exposure of waste industry workers to infectious waste in Washington State. American Journal of Public Health 1990;80(10):1262-1264. 6. North
American Needle Exchange Network. [Click
on "Needle Exchange Program Links" and select Ohio from teh
U.S. map] Disclaimer The materials provided on this web site are for general information purposes only. They do not constitute legal or policy advice or opinion. Access to these materials, their transmission, or receipt is not privileged and does not create any relationship with the provider. CDC has attempted to make the information in this website accurate. However, CDC makes no guarantees about the accuracy, currency, or completeness of the information provided. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for results obtained from the use of the information. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional should be sought. This CDC Web site is no longer being reviewed or updated and thus is no longer kept current. This site remains to assist researchers or others needing historical content. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Privacy Policy | Accessibility
|
Ohio's Public Health Laws and Regulations: Impact
on the Safe Disposal of Used Syringes by Individuals in the Community
