Recorded presentation

Patrice M Sutton, MPH¹, Julia B Quint, PhD², Janice C. Prudhomme, DO, MPH², Mary Deems, MPH³, Elizabeth Katz, MPH, CIH², Kim Hagadone², Jennifer Flattery, MPH³, and Robert Harrison, MD, MPH³. (1) Public Health Institute, California Department of Health Services, Occupational Health Branch, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-622-4382, psutton1@dhs.ca.gov, (2) Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, (3) Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612

At the request of the American Nurses Association, Greenaction, and the Center for Environmental Health, the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) investigated the potential occupational health hazards of large-scale autoclaves that have been implemented to treat medical waste in lieu of incinerators shut down because of environmental standards. Goals of CDHS’ investigation were: (1) make a limited, industrial hygiene assessment of the potential occupational hazards associated with an off-site steam autoclave; (2) disseminate findings and recommendations in a written report; and (3) increase awareness of the linkages between occupational and environmental health among governmental and non-governmental organizations committed to worker and environmental health, medical waste generators, and the medical waste treatment industry. Methods - CDHS: (1) observed the work processes involved in the medical waste stream, including disposal at generators, transport off-site, treatment at one off-site steam autoclave, and disposal at landfills; (2) interviewed workers involved in the generation, transport, treatment and disposal of medical waste; (3) conducted key informant interviews with local and state regulatory agencies, medical waste generators, landfill operators, industry representatives, worker and environmental health advocates, and technical experts; and 4. reviewed written records and the literature. Results - Many of the worker health and safety issues identified were common to all medical waste treatment technologies, for example, worker training, careful identification of components of the medical waste stream, proper waste segregation, and elimination of the use of hazardous materials whenever possible. Findings, conclusions, and recommendations to prevent illness and injury will be presented.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation participants will be able to

1.Recognize the potential impacts of medical waste diposal practices on environmental and occupational health;
• Identify medical waste disposal practices that protect the environment the health and safety of workers throughout the medical waste stream.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Health Care Workers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation