Title: Managing waste from healthcare activities : working towards best practice
Author: Environment Agency Midlands Region
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
Recent incidents involving the discovery of clinical waste in public places has raised a question about the present management of this waste. Yellow bags containing clinical waste, sharps containers, used needles and dental care waste have been found on unlicensed sites, riverbanks, highways and household waste sites. These incidents are serious breaches of the Duty of Care imposed by section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Environment Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991 and have led to NHS Trusts and others being prosecuted and fined. As a consequence, the Environment Agency has recognised the need to assist NHS Trusts, and others who produce clinical waste, in identifying good waste management practice. The intention of this report is to: define the sources and categories of clinical waste; assist the producers of clinical waste in identifying the best practical environmental option for disposal of this waste; offer guidelines towards achieving good clinical waste management In addition to this report, a shorter complementary document has been prepared for those producing and managing clinical waste within the community.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Publication Date: [after 1996]
Publication Place: Solihull
Subject Keywords: Waste management; Health and safety regulations; Health care; Health protection; Legislation
Geographic Keywords: United Kingdom
Extent: 27
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:1032
Total file downloads: 277
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