Biohazard Waste Disposal Guidelines

Environment Services

 Completing essential documentation in the medical waste business can be time-consuming and tedious. However, compliance entails adhering to federal, state, and even municipal rules for healthcare waste management; otherwise, you risk incurring penalties and fines. Many government authorities, like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), monitor healthcare waste management compliance. What does OSHA, a division of the Labor Department, have to do with medical waste management?


OSHA's biohazard waste disposal requirements are intended to safeguard all businesses in the country, namely workers in medical care and related waste settings and industries, from illness or injury caused by biological, hazardous, or contagious waste.

Ensure Safety in All Industries
The goal of OSHA is to decrease and prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. OSHA was founded in an era when workplace safety standards and regulations were low, including in the healthcare business. Reports of serious accidents and deaths have grown year after year. By the late 1960s, crippling injuries had climbed by 20%, with an alarming 14,000 people dying on the job each year.1 Senators and representatives began crafting and finishing the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, often known as the Williams-Steiger Act.

The Act Has Three Primary Components:
  • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determines and enforces workplace safety and health standards.
  • The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) is an independent institution adjudicating enforcement actions businesses challenge.
  • The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was established to research occupational safety and health.
President Nixon signed the measure into law in 1970. The US Department of Labor oversaw the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and continues to do so. As the agency expanded and flourished over time, it accumulated vast red tape. As a result, paperwork and documentation were created for practically all industrial conditions, all to protect workers in all sectors from accidents, diseases, and fatalities that had been occurring for decades.

The healthcare industry is responsible for identifying and managing medical waste streams

OSHA also helps medical facilities, their staff, and medical waste management firms by developing guidelines for the processing and disposal of biohazard waste. Many of these principles are outlined in the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, which includes the use of PPE, proper training, mandated hepatitis B vaccinations, disclosure of biohazardous products to personnel, and the preparation of an exposure control strategy. All healthcare staff, as well as healthcare waste management firms and personnel, are responsible for identifying healthcare waste streams and determining which may contain hazardous chemicals, biomedical waste, or infectious waste.2

As leading specialists in medical waste management, Trihaz Solutions advises all medical facilities, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, dentistry providers, and, yes, mortuaries, to follow OSHA biohazard waste rules for staff safety and training. This minimizes the likelihood of suffering an injury or being ill. Trihaz Solutions provides tools, guidance, and regulatory knowledge for healthcare waste management in all 50 states. Maintain compliance, minimize injury risks, and prevent penalties for noncompliance. Call us now to learn more about OSHA's biohazard waste disposal rules, as well as Trihaz’s products, services, and resources.
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