Frequently Asked Questions

All healthcare facilities are obliged to comply with the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard irrespective of size or facility type. Employers must evaluate their individual work settings and implement measures to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to Blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM); protective measures taken must be chronicled in the employers’ exposure control plan.

No, Daniels does not retail RMW boxes; however, Biohaz/RMW boxes or containers are provided as part of a contracted waste pickup service with Daniels Health.

Glass, as it is something that could potentially puncture skin, would be considered a sharp and go into our sharps container.

All healthcare waste, from hospital wastes to RMW generated by smaller clinics, must be managed in adherence with the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Employers must assess their specific workplace environments and implement strategies to reduce or eliminate employees’ contact with blood products or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). These protective actions must be documented in the facility’s exposure control plan.

All RMW reusable bins or cardboard boxes require an inner liner (i.e. film bag) to meet the requirements and be in accordance with 49 CFR 173.197(E). However, Daniels Health does offer a fully reusable RMW container called the Medismart that does not require a liner or film bag while meeting all legal and safety requirements. The Medismart is a great solution to further eliminate single-use plastic and protect your staff during biohaz disposal. To learn more about the Medismart visit: www.dannielshealth.com/medismart.

Diapers, human feces, and urine are not biohazardous waste unless grossly soiled with blood. Despite being commonly treated as RMW, these items are classified as regular waste and can be disposed of in the trash.

Daniels Health has the capability to service multiple healthcare waste streams including sharps, RMW/Biohaz, trace chemotherapy, non-hazardous pharmaceuticals, pathological, and hazardous/RCRA waste.

No, Daniels Health does not sell biohazard waste containers. When you partner with Daniels, your waste containers are included with service. We install containers on location and replace those containers per their frequency – anywhere from 2 times a week to twice a year. We replace the dirty container with a clean sanitized container ensuring you have everything needed to focus on patient care.

Using a foot-pedal opening mechanism and bagless system means hand contact with the regulated medical waste container is no longer required. This no-touch alternative results in a dramatic reduction in the infection transfer risk that currently exists using standard medical waste containers. The Medismart reusable system ensures that once full, each container is removed from your premises, emptied, and then subjected to a rigorous 6-stage robotic wash and decontamination process that eliminates challenge organisms and proves a 6 Log (99.9999%) reduction in bacterial load.

Monkeypox is classified in two distinct clades, the West African and Central African (Congo Basin) clade. The West African infection is less severe and associated with less human-to-human transmission compared to the Congo Basin clade.

Regulations for storage duration and removal of regulated medical wastes from facilities differs from state-to-state. For example, in the state of Florida, regulated waste (which includes biomedical waste) cannot be stored for more than 30 days. In the state of Michigan, a medical waste generator may not store waste on the premises for more than 90 days. Regulations may also differ depending on the volume of waste generated by a healthcare facility on a monthly basis, such as a large-quantity generator (LQG) and small-quantity generator (SQG). Storage temperature rules also apply. Given the complexities and variability of rules across areas and facilities, it’s important to work with a vendor that can provide clarity for all waste streams.

The management of wastes generated from patients infected with monkeypox is determined by which clade has been identified. West African clade is managed as routine RMW (UN 3291). Package in according with applicable regulations for RMW found in 49 CFR § 173.197. No DOT special permit is required unless using a packaging not currently authorized by the HMR. Congo basin clade is managed as Category A Infectious Substance (UN 2814). Packaging and transport of Category A monkeypox waste is determined by USDOT and may require a special permit (SP). If you determine epidemiologically or via clade identification that a patient has Congo Basin clade, please contact your Daniels representative for further guidance on Category A packaging and transport requirements.

Regulated Medical waste falls into the packaging group PG II. It’s proper shipping name is Rgulated Medical Waste, n.o.s and it belongs in the Hazard Class 6, Division 6.2. A Division 6.2 infectious substance (which includes regulated medical waste) is a hazardous material that is subject to regulation under the Hazardous Materials Regulation (HMR). All employees involved in its transportation (including loading, unloading, handling and preparing or reviewing shipping papers) are HazMat employees who have undergone the required training.

Regulated medical waste includes any type of blood or potentially infectious materials generated at health care facilities, including hospitals, clinics, physicians offices and other primary care facilities.

There are several types of RMW that may have unique handling requirements: 1. Pathological waste – Tissues, organs, body parts, and body fluids removed during surgery or autopsy procedures. 2. Human blood and blood products such as serum, plasma, and other blood components. 3. Microbiological wastes – Cultures and stocks of infectious agents such as laboratory specimens, culture dishes, inoculation and/or mixing devices, discarded live and attenuated vaccines, and so fort). 4. Contaminated sharps, including hypodermic needles, syringes, scalpel blades, pipettes, and broken glass, among other objects that can pierce, slash, or poke the skin. 5. Isolation waste are those generated from patients who are isolated to protect others from a communicable disease. 6. Contaminated animal wastes such as carcasses, body parts, and bedding from animals intentionally exposed to pathogens in research, biologicals production, or drug tests. 7. Trace chemotherapy waste – This is a type of waste produced in a chemotherapy treatment scenario. For example, items that might be contaminated with a residual or trace amount of drug, such as in a vial, tubing, an IV bag, and personal protective equipment (PPE). 8. Non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste – This type of waste is not governed by RCRA but must still be disposed of properly.

There are a many laws and guidelines used to regulate biomedical/biohazardous waste. Below are just a few of them – The Medical Waste Tracking Act: Enacted by congress in the 1980’s. This act determined which waste should be regulated and how it should be segregated, packaged, and stored. It also established a cradle-to-grave tracking system and defined penalties for mismanagement of regulated waste. – Cradle to grave: As mentioned above this is a result of the MWTA. This refers to tracking and ownership of regulated waste from the point of generation all the way to treatment and disposal. The generator, likely a healthcare facility is responsible for the waste even after it has been picked up by a certified medical waste disposal service provider has picked up the waste. This is the law and any service provider who says they take ownership and your liability is waved is incorrect as this is legally not possible. – Storage requirement: These requirements could vary by state, it is important to know the storage requirements and regulations that pertain to you and your facility. – You must be DOT certified to sign a manifest which is required when pickup up of waste occurs. Some common regulations or requirement are: 1. Medical waste must cannot be stored for more than 30 days 2. Clean unused medical waste containers and used containers cannot be stored in the same location 3. Soil rooms used to store used containers must have a lock

There are requirements on the state and federal level for the handling and disposal of medical waste. The handling and storage requirements which could vary by state can be found at https://www.danielshealth.com/state-and-federal-regulations-medical-waste-disposal .

What is biomedical waste disposal? Biomedical waste, also known as regulated medical waste, red bag waste or biohazardous waste, includes any solid waste or liquid waste contaminated with blood, human body fluids, or other materials that could potentially spread infections. Biomedical waste encompasses anatomical waste, sharps, laboratory waste, among others, and can pose serious health hazards if not properly separated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines medical waste as “waste sufficiently capable of causing infection during its handling and disposal.” Our product range includes disposal containers for all related waste types these facilities produce, such as regulated medical waste, sharps, pharmaceuticals, chemotherapy, and hazardous waste.

It is important to avoid overfilling any type of medical waste containers. Unlike your kitchen rubbish bin at home, you should never push the waste down in an effort to fit more in the bin. This poses a safety risk as you can never be sure of the waste contents and run the risk of a sharps injury or contact with a potentially infections substance. Daniels Health containers are designed with fill lines to protect against overfilling. Once waste reaches the fill line, please lock your container and put it aside for service. If all of your medical waste containers are full or anticipated to fill before your next service, please contact Daniels Customer Excellence team to request an urgent pickup and supply of more clean containers.

The transportation in commerce of Regulated Medical Waste is Hazard Class 6, Division 6.2 per the Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR) of the PHMSA/USDOT).

Different facilities have their own policies and processes in place, but typically the following items are classified as regulated medical waste: Gauze, bandages or other items saturated with blood, Gloves, personal protective equipment (PPE) and plastic tubing that is contaminated with blood or body fluid, and disposable sharps containers. The things that should not be disposed of in a regulated medical waste container are medications, loose sharps, chemotherapy waste, pharmaceuticals and hazardous wastes.

The term “biohazard” is defined as biological material (for example plants, animals, microorganisms or their byproduct) that poses potential risk to the health and well-being of humans, animals, or the environment 29 CFR 1910.1030 (g)(1)(i)(A). All bio hazardous waste must be disposed of in an approved biohazardous medical waste container.

A medical waste generator is an individual (including doctors and nurses) or an entity (such as a dentist, veterinarian practice or hospital) whose actions resulted in the production of medical waste. The generator may be an individual, private or public corporation, a partnership, a board or any other association of people. Medical waste generators consist of clinics, blood banks, surgery centers, dialysis centers, laboratories, funeral homes, pharmacies, tattoo parlours, med spas and acupuncture facilities among many others.

Otherwise known as biohazardous waste or biomedical waste, infectious waste is any waste containing infectious materials or potentially infectious substances such as blood or bodily fluids generated from a patient. Sharps wastes that have come into direct contact with a patient such as needles, blades and lancets are all considered biohazardous (with the potential of being infectious) and should be disposed of in a clinical-grade sharps container.

Medical waste is classified as any solid waste which is generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of humans or animals, in research, or in the production or testing of biologicals. Medical waste does not include hazardous waste or radioactive waste. Medical waste disposal is a term often used to signify the collection, transport and treatment of medical waste by a licensed waste hauler.

Regulated medical waste (sometimes referred to as red bag waste or biohazardous waste) is the classification for wastes that are contaminated with blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials, thus posing risk of transmitting infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical waste is “waste sufficiently capable of causing infection during handling and disposal.” We have medical waste and sharps disposal containers for all the specific waste streams these faculties generate, including regulated medical waste, sharps waste, pharmaceutical waste, chemotherapy waste, and hazardous waste.

Biological waste, also known as RMW, biohazardous waste, or medical waste is any waste that contains/is soaked in blood or potentially infectious material. This type of waste must be sterilized before disposal, usually carried out by high heat autoclave. Regular waste can be disposed of without sterilization and is typically sent directly to landfill. Some common things often thrown away as biological waste are feces, urine, and band aids. Assuming these items are not infectious, they can be disposed of in the trash.

Who regulates biomedical waste disposal guidelines? Medical waste disposal is regulated by a combination of federal and state laws covering everything from labeling and containment to storage, transportation, and treatment. The Environmental Prevention Agency (EPA) and Department of Health oversee treatment facilities for processing and environmental safety, while OSHA, DOT, and CDC handle labeling, containment, and the safe management of medical and sharps waste disposal containers.

There are both federal and state regulations that govern the labeling, containment, storage, transport and treatment of medical waste. The Environmental Prevention Agency (EPA) and Department of Health regulates treatment facilities for processing and environmental safety; OSHA, DOT and CDC govern labeling, containment and the identification and safe handling of medical waste and sharps disposal containers.

Yes. Our containers are DOT Compliant and are designed with a gasket, lock, leakproof seal and are hold PG2 rating. With PG2 rating, our chemotherapy containers do not require bagging and secondary packaging as do the majority of disposable and other reusable chemotherapy containers.

The color of the container for Chemotherapy waste depends largely on whether it is “Trace” amounts or “Bulk” amounts of Chemotherapy waste. Trace amounts of chemotherapy drug residue, i.e. less than 3% of the original volume, should be disposed of in a yellow Chemotherapy container correctly labelled and approved for collection of chemotherapy substances. Bulk amounts of chemotherapy drugs, including half-empty IV bags, vials or syringes, must be disposed of in a black RCRA hazardous waste container.

Bulk chemotherapy waste is classified as RCRA hazardous waste and is defined as a chemotherapy drug that has more than 3% by volume of the drug remaining. All bulk chemotherapy waste must be managed as RCRA hazardous waste and collected in a RCRA defined chemotherapy waste disposal container or bin. It is a violation of the Dangerous Waste Regulations to dispose of these pharmaceuticals in the sewer, sharps container, or a regulated medical waste container.

State and federal regulations mandate that chemotherapy waste must be processed by incineration treatment only and that approved chemotherapy containers and liners be utilized for disposal and transport.

Daniels has the only reusable chemotherapy container system in the United States. Daniels Chemosmart containers are the only DOT containers approved for transport and impenetrability, and have built in safety mechanisms to protect staff during use. Compared to using disposable chemotherapy containers that is a 7 step process (including purchase, assembly, disposal, bagging, box assembly, double packaging and transport), the Daniels chemotherapy container solutions offers three simple steps – wheel container to point-of-waste generation, disposal, and securing container for transport.

The term “bulk” chemotherapy is defined as chemo waste that exceeds 3% by volume and is considered a RCRA hazardous waste. Full bags or bottles and P-listed chemotherapy drugs fall under RCRA hazardous waste regulations and must be disposed of as hazardous waste. This must be disposed of as a hazardous waste and no in a Chemosmart chemotherapy container. Bulk Chemotherapy Waste includes – Any non-empty containers of chemotherapy medicine, including IV bags, bottles and tubing. – Chemotherapy waste that is designated as RCRA hazardous waste or State-only dangerous waste. – All containers or IV bags and tubing once containing a P-Listed RCRA material, including Arsenic Trioxide. – Any materials used to clean up a chemotherapy spill.

Chemotherapy wastes are defined by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as a ‘hazardous chemical waste’ (and therefore must be handled as biomedical waste) it’s usually the by-product of drug therapy administered to patients (such as chemotherapy) although typically divided into two streams trace and bulk chemotherapy waste. Chemotherapy waste must be disposed of in either a trace chemotherapy container, or a hazardous waste container.

Vials or other containers that have less than 3% of the original contents by weight, after removing as much of the chemotherapy medicine as feasible and by normal means. Trace Chemotherapy waste typically exhibits reactivity, toxicity, ignitability and corrosivity. Trace Chemotherapy Waste Includes any empty chemotherapy containers, intravenous bags/bottles and IV tubing that do not hold either a P-listed chemotherapy medicine or a State-only hazardous waste, all empty bags, drug vials/needles, containers, gloves and tubing with chemotherapy medicine remaining from use during chemotherapy infusions, and any PPE, masks, gowns and other materials use during chemotherapy infusions that are not visibly contaminated. Trace Chemotherapy Waste can be disposed of in a Chemosmart chemotherapy container.

Pharmaceutical waste that falls under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, as amended (42 USCA Sec. 6901 et seq.) should be disposed of into a hazardous waste container.

Bulk chemotherapy waste is classified as RCRA hazardous waste and is defined as a chemotherapy drug that has more than 3% by volume of the drug remaining. All bulk chemotherapy waste must be managed as RCRA hazardous waste and collected in a RCRA defined chemotherapy waste disposal container or bin. It is a violation of the Dangerous Waste Regulations to dispose of these pharmaceuticals in the sewer, sharps container, or a regulated medical waste container.

If the formulation’s pH is less than or equal to 2, it is classified RCRA hazardous waste for corrosivity with waste code D002. These wastes should always be disposed in an approved hazardous waste container.

Characteristic Wastes are those that do not fall under any of the listed wastes but that exhibit the following characteristics: Ignitability – wastes that can readily catch fire and maintain combustion Corrosivity – wastes that are acidic or alkaline (basic) Reactivity – wastes that readily explode or undergo violent reactions or react by releasing toxic gases or fumes Toxicity – wastes likely to leach dangerous concentrations of toxic chemicals into groundwater These wastes should always be disposed in an approved hazardous waste container.

P-Listed wastes are acutely toxic and include multiple pharmaceuticals and other materials found in healthcare facilities. Examples of P-Listed wastes: Acetamide Isodrin Epinephrine Warfarin & salts (concentration > 0.3%) Nicotine & salts U-Listed wastes are toxic and include many pharmaceuticals and other materials such as commercial chemical products used in healthcare facilities. Examples of U-Listed wastes in the healthcare setting are (but not limited to): Triallate Warfarin (concentration ≤ 0.3%) Ethanamine Acetyl Chloride These wastes should always be disposed in an approved hazardous waste container.

Pharmaceuticals are classified as Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste when deemed nonviable (returned, expired or damaged). The volume and type of listing can dictate volumes permitted to be stored, generator status and packaging requirements for disposal. Pharmaceutical waste should always be disposed of in an approved hazardous waste container.

Of the listed wastes, only the P and U lists are relevant to hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. These include common drugs such as warfarin, nicotine, cyclophosphamide, and lindane. RCRA also defines four characteristics of hazardous waste: ignitability, corrosivity, toxicity and reactivity. These wastes should always be disposed in an approved hazardous waste container.

Hazardous waste is any waste with properties that make it potentially dangerous or harmful to human health or the environment. The EPA has developed four categories of specific wastes (Listed Wastes) and four with defined characteristics (Characteristic Wastes) to identify wastes considered to be hazardous. Waste is classified as “hazardous” when it is discarded or no longer of value such as in the case of expired drugs or thermostats containing mercury. These wastes should always be disposed in an approved hazardous waste container.

All Hazmat employees including hazardous waste disposal transporter staff and anyone signing manifests must complete the DOT: Transporters & Hazardous Waste training. Daniels online module takes approximately 4 hours to complete and is required to be taken within 90 days of initial hire and once every 3 years.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is constantly investigating breaches of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) governing hazardous waste disposal. Infringements can result in corporate fines of up to $37,500 for each violation per day, as well as personal fines and/or imprisonment for any and all involved employees up to the CEO.

Yes, provided: (i) when the Sharpsmarts sharps containers leave the healthcare facility, the radio activity has deteriorated to below the level set by the state for safe disposal of radioactive waste, and (ii) the Sharpsmart can be accommodated in the healthcare facility’s lead-lined enclosures where radioactive items must be stored until radioactivity has reached a safe level.

While regulated medical waste can be treated by autoclave to achieve sterilization, depending on state regulations most pathological waste must be processed through incineration. Incineration is a much hotter treatment that reduces the contents to dust or ash. Daniels Health subscribes to the state regulations that govern the jurisdiction in which we operate, where mandated we will incinerate, but in states where this treatment is not enforced, we utilize autoclave or microwave technology on our medical waste and sharps disposal containers.

Pathological waste is defined as any human or animal body parts. This can include organs, tissues, surgical specimens and bodily fluids removed during surgery or autopsy and must be properly disposed of in an approved pathological medical waste container.

Yes. According to 21 CFR 1300.05, “A controlled substance is destroyed on-site when destruction occurs on the physical premises of the destroying registrant’s registered location. A hospital/clinic has an on-site pharmacy when it has a pharmacy located on the physical premises of the registrant’s registered location.” Registrants must complete a disposal log (DEA Form 41) and maintain records onsite for a minimum of two years when disposing of expired or unused controlled substances. State boards of pharmacy may be able to provide additional local or state requirements that must be followed.

Yes, the activated carbon and solution that is used in both products is non-corrosive and non-toxic to the skin and eyes. The carbon is non-flammable and is stable under normal conditions. There are no known harmful effects associated with ingestion of carbon. If ingested, contact Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.

Yes – the Pharmaceutical Waste Stream includes residual medicines which may be contained in partly emptied glass vials, hard capsule or tablet medication, broken ampoules and drawing up needles. These wastes should always be disposed in an approved pharmaceutical waste container.

According to the DEA, any destruction method applied to a controlled substance must render it “non-retrievable” and no longer available for use. The testing results of both Rx Destroyer and Secure a Drug have shown to meet these standards. Ultimately, it is up to the individual waste generator to ensure that they comply with facility, local, state, tribal and federal regulations.

No. While solutions like Secure a Drug and RX Destroyer are designed to meet DEA standards for controlled substance disposal, they do not alter the hazardous characteristics of RCRA substances. A RCRA hazardous waste is still hazardous after being rendered non-retrievable, and must be treated accordingly.

Pharmaceutical waste that falls under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, as amended (42 USCA Sec. 6901 et seq.) should be disposed of into a hazardous waste container.

Approximately 5% of the average drug inventory is considered hazardous waste by the EPA. These drugs must be handled, managed, transported and disposed of as hazardous waste, and should always be disposed in an approved hazardous waste container. . Daniels Health Pharmaceutical Characterization Portal provides the tools necessary for your facility to be compliant with the EPA and DOT. Every time you log onto the online portal, your current inventory database is re-evaluated and you have the most up-to-date hazardous waste classification information available.

The DEA defines “non-retrievable” as “the condition or state to which a controlled substance shall be rendered following a process that permanently alters that controlled substance’s physical or chemical condition or state through irreversible means and thereby renders the controlled substance unavailable and unusable for all practical purposes” (21 CFR 1300.05). Put simply, that means that controlled substances must be transformed to a state in which they cannot be diverted for illicit purposes.

If the formulation’s pH is less than or equal to 2, it is classified RCRA hazardous waste for corrosivity with waste code D002. These wastes should always be disposed in an approved hazardous waste container.

Pharmaceuticals are classified as Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste when deemed nonviable (returned, expired or damaged). The volume and type of listing can dictate volumes permitted to be stored, generator status and packaging requirements for disposal. Pharmaceutical waste should always be disposed of in an approved hazardous waste container.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration regulates disposal requirements for controlled substances. Those requirements are provided in Title 21 Part 1317 of the US Code of Federal Regulations, and specific provisions are provided for both DEA registrants and non-registrants. Although the law does not mandate any specific method of destruction, it does spell out specific destruction requirements, including that controlled substances must be rendered non-retrievable.

Hazardous pharmaceuticals and prescription medications scheduled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are considered controlled substances.These substances are categorized into different schedules. Schedule V narcotics are the least likely to be abused, whereas Schedule I narcotics have a greater potential for causing physical or psychological dependence. No matter how these drugs are categorized, they all require specialized containment that complies with the disposal requirements of controlled substance waste streams.

There are many substances that are both designated as controlled by the DEA and listed as hazardous per the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), including: Chloral Hydrate, Fentanyl Sublingual Spray, Phenobarbita, Testosterone Gels / Solutions, Valium Injectables / Gels

The EPA “Sewer Ban,” in place since August 2019, prohibits the disposal of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals down the drain.

Water treatment facilities struggle to filter out pharmaceuticals from the water. As of 2014, there were over 1,500 published reports of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in sewage, surface water, ground water, and elsewhere. Because of these findings, most federal, state and local authorities are recommending that pharmaceuticals NOT be disposed in the toilet or sink. Effective on August 21, 2019, EPA prohibited all healthcare facilities and reverse distributors from disposing of their hazardous waste pharmaceuticals down the drain (e.g., no flushing or pouring down a sink). This “sewer ban” is in effect at healthcare facilities and reverse distributors of all sizes in all states, territories, and Indian country. In addition to the sewer ban, the EPA strongly discourages the sewering of any pharmaceutical, with very few exceptions, by residents or by any type of facility.

All Daniels medical waste container solutions are designed to provide safety of use and unhindered deposition of sharps and waste in a fast paced OR environment. The best suited containers for the OR are Daniels Surgismart for the collection of surgical devices and SUD’s, the Daniels Sharpsmart sharps disposal containers with full access openings for quick disposal or safety-trays for smaller syringes and finer needles, and the Daniels Medismart for the collection of Regulated Medical Waste. All containers can be mounted on static stands or carts with dual mounting options to have two containers positioned at point-of-use.

Surgical waste is known as pathological waste that is removed from a patient during surgery. Such waste is then required to be disposed of in a pathological waste container at the conclusion of the procedure. Instruments used during surgeries which can include needles, scalpels, syringes and lancets should be disposed of in a sharps container, and any non biological materials contaminated with blood or bodily fluids should be segregated into an approved regulated medical waste container.

No, many of the items on the Hazardous Drug (HD) list are chemotherapy drugs. In bulk (greater than 3%) these drugs must be disposed of as RCRA waste, but as trace (less than 3%) these can be disposed of in a chemotherapy container. PPE used in the handling of hazardous drugs could have trace amounts of contamination, so the recommendation is that all PPE used in association with HD are disposed of in a certified chemotherapy waste container.

No. Disposable PPE must not be re-used. All PPE worn when handling HDs is considered to be contaminated with, at minimum, trace quantities of HDs. PPE must be placed in an appropriate USP 800 compatible waste container and further disposed of per local, state, and federal regulations. PPE worn during compounding should be disposed of in the proper waste container before leaving the C-SEC.

Yes, Daniels has a unique solution for both sharps and soft waste that is categorized as USP 800 waste under the USP 800 Standard. Further information on our USP800 waste solutions can be found here: www.danielshealth.com/usp800.

Drug categorization itself does not change, EPA regulations still apply to some of the medications on the NIOSH hazardous drugs list and current pharmaceutical disposal procedures will need to be followed. Drug packaging (wrappers etc) will be able to be collected in our USP800 approved trace containers.

You can follow the recommended procedures that ensure safe Hazardous Drug handling in a healthcare setting. Many of the safety recommendations are around the storage of Hazardous Drugs, wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling these drugs and eliminating reuse of disposable PPE when relocating out of hazardous waste compounding areas. When it comes to waste management, the USP800 standard also sets out new expectations around the disposal of PPE contaminated with hazardous drugs, visit www.danielshealth.com/usp800 to learn what waste falls under the USP800 standard.

All PPE used in the administering of drugs listed on the USP800 list must be disposed in proper containment, such as the Daniels trace chemotherapy or hazardous waste containers. (reference the NIOSH USP800 HD tables 1-3 to identify drugs that fall into the USP800 category) When administering hazardous drugs that pose a threat to reproductive organs, healthcare workers handling such substances must ensure that their PPE is single use (not reusable) and is changed on a regular basis to reduce cross-contamination risk.

No, USP 800 is a recommended standard for the safe handling of hazardous drugs. However, compliance surrounding how the Standard is executed is enforced by a variety of regulatory agencies from a local to federal level.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) curated a list of defined hazardous drugs those exhibiting “one or more of the following characteristics in humans or animals: carcinogenicity, teratogenicity or developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity at low doses, genotoxicity, or structure and toxicity profiles of new drugs that mimic existing hazardous drugs.”* USP 800 details safe handling practice for this NIOSH-listed Hazardous Drugs to keep you safe. *https://www.usp.org/compounding/general-chapter-hazardous-drugs-handling-healthcare

Any facilities (hospitals, oncology centers, laboratories or pharmacies) that are handling NIOSH Hazardous Drugs. These can range from antineoplastic, non-antineoplastic, and non-antineoplastic drugs – ultimately drugs that have adverse side effects.

As the majority of USP 800 waste consists of the PPE used in the handling of hazardous drugs and such waste is contaminated by trace amounts of hazardous substances, the most cost-efficient means of compliant disposal is in a chemotherapy waste container. The alternative is over-classifying the waste as RCRA and disposing in a black bin; however, this will incur significant increases in cost of collection and disposal. Daniels’ reusable Chemosmart container is the safest and most environmentally efficient solution on the market for the collection of USP 800 waste.

USP Chapter 800 sets the framework for creating the standard operating procedures for how facilities handle Hazardous Drugs in a healthcare setting. This new standard has identified a list of ‘hazardous drugs’ which are separate from what we have previously understood as hazardous, and has dictated new waste handling pathways for PPE, Packaging and other items that have come in contact with the substances. Further information about USP800 can be found at www.usp.org

USP 800 took effect on December 1, 2019, after being pushed back from its previous effective date of June 2018.

This chapter applies to all healthcare personnel who handle HD preparations and all entities that store, prepare, transport, or administer HDs (e.g., pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare institutions, patient treatment clinics, physicians’ practice facilities, or veterinarians’ offices). Personnel who may potentially be exposed to HDs include, but are not limited to: pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, physicians, physician assistants, home healthcare workers, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians.

The USP 800 Standard depends upon your facility’s state but it is enforced by a variety of agencies from local to federal. For example, The Joint Commission survey’s for USP compounding standard compliance.

To protect frontline staff that administer hazardous drugs from reproductive health risks associated with exposure to the drugs. This new standard has identified a list of ‘hazardous drugs’ which are separate from what we have previously understood as hazardous.

The FDA has clearly stated that methanol and 1-propanol are not acceptable active ingredients for hand sanitizer products and, due to their toxic effects, must not be used. Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and life-threatening when ingested. Through internal investigations, the FDA noted that hand sanitizer products containing these toxic alcohols are often incorrectly labelled, and therefore it is the duty of the user to correctly identify the efficacy of the product being used.

In November 2020 the US Department of Agriculture issued a memorandum providing guidance regarding the management and disposal of hand sanitizer. Within this dissertation, it was instructed that USDA Agencies must manage all hand sanitizer as a Class 3 Flammable Liquid in accordance with 29 CFR § 1910.106 and 1926.152.

Federal disposal guidelines stipulate that all alcohol-based hand sanitizer products be treated as hazardous waste due to the ignitability characteristic (40 CFR § 261.21). Like all hazardous wastes, proper disposal is limited to a certified waste hauler that is permitted to transport and store hazardous waste.