Keeping Staff Safe When Disposing of Trace Chemotherapy

We protect what matters. what protect We

to handle hazardous wastes. hazardous handle to

See more best practices best more See permitted vehicles by up picked is waste

waste containers. Bulk chemotherapy chemotherapy Bulk containers. waste

waste or into other appropriate hazardous hazardous appropriate other into or waste

black containers used for pharmaceutical pharmaceutical for used containers black

into goes waste chemotherapy Bulk

partially used vials of chemotherapy drugs. drugs. chemotherapy of vials used partially

containers for incineration. incineration. for containers chemotherapeutic agents and expired or or expired and agents chemotherapeutic

for waste pick-up and disposal, including marking and labeling labeling and marking including disposal, and pick-up waste for such as absorbent PPE that is saturated with with saturated is that PPE absorbent as such

Partner with your waste management company to create protocols protocols create to company management waste your with Partner drugs in or on the item being disposed, disposed, being item the on or in drugs

than a trace amount of chemotherapy chemotherapy of amount trace a than

active drug can be absorbed through unprotected skin. unprotected through absorbed be can drug active

as RCRA empty or where there is more more is there where or empty RCRA as

can be transferred from contaminated surfaces to workers, and the the and workers, to surfaces contaminated from transferred be can

classified classified not is that waste chemotherapy

Containers should be designed for minimal handling. Drug residue residue Drug handling. minimal for designed be should Containers

Bulk chemotherapy waste is is waste chemotherapy Bulk

removed with cleaning reusable containers. containers. reusable cleaning with removed CHEMOTHERAPY WASTE? CHEMOTHERAPY

to dangerous trace amounts of chemicals that cannot be completely completely be cannot that chemicals of amounts trace dangerous to

WHAT IS BULK BULK IS WHAT

reusable or recyclable) so as to avoid the possibility of exposing staff staff exposing of possibility the avoid to as so recyclable) or reusable

Waste containers used for trace chemo should be single use (not (not use single be should chemo trace for used containers Waste

but is incinerated, not autoclaved. not incinerated, is but and gowns, and other materials used in drug administration. drug in used materials other and gowns, and

waste medical regulated as treated and vials), sharps, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves gloves as such (PPE) equipment protective personal sharps, vials),

Trace chemotherapy waste is transported transported is waste chemotherapy Trace

containers (intravenous bags and associated tubing, bottles and and bottles tubing, associated and bags (intravenous containers

capacity of the container, is remaining. remaining. is container, the of capacity appropriate container, including empty chemotherapy drug drug chemotherapy empty including container, appropriate

than 3% of the drug, by weight of the total total the of weight by drug, the of 3% than Place all trace chemotherapy drug delivery materials in the the in materials delivery drug chemotherapy trace all Place

are RCRA empty, meaning that no more more no that meaning empty, RCRA are containers that will be picked up by regulated medical waste vehicles. vehicles. waste medical regulated by up picked be will that containers

fully administered, and containers that that containers and administered, fully

waste vehicles. Only trace chemo goes into the yellow bags or sharps sharps or bags yellow the into goes chemo trace Only vehicles. waste waste, syringes and I.V. bags that have been been have that bags I.V. and syringes waste,

waste. Trace chemotherapy waste is picked up by regulated medical medical regulated by up picked is waste chemotherapy Trace waste. that is not saturated with hazardous drug drug hazardous with saturated not is that

specifically designed for trace amounts of chemotherapeutic drug drug chemotherapeutic of amounts trace for designed specifically Trace chemotherapy waste includes PPE PPE includes waste chemotherapy Trace

Use yellow waste bags or yellow hard plastic containers (for sharps) sharps) (for containers plastic hard yellow or bags waste yellow Use

CHEMOTHERAPY WASTE? CHEMOTHERAPY

Use Proper Disposal Containers Containers Disposal Proper Use WHAT IS TRACE TRACE IS WHAT

waste disposal processes that mitigate exposure risk. risk. exposure mitigate that processes disposal waste

disposed of. To protect staff, healthcare organizations should have clear clear have should organizations healthcare staff, protect To of. disposed

employees if the drugs and drug waste are improperly handled and and handled improperly are waste drug and drugs the if employees

are potent and toxic agents that can cause serious health problems for for problems health serious cause can that agents toxic and potent are

Drugs used in chemotherapy, including antineoplastics and cytotoxics, cytotoxics, and antineoplastics including chemotherapy, in used Drugs

Chemotherapy Drugs Drugs Chemotherapy

When Disposing of Trace Trace of Disposing When

Keeping Staff Safe Safe Staff Keeping

FACTSHEET KEEPING STAFF SAFE WHEN DISPOSING OF TRACE CHEMOTHERAPY

Dispose of Personal Protective Understand Regulations and Guidelines Equipment Used In Trace Chemo on Chemotherapy Drug Waste

PPE, including gloves and gowns, which is To ensure regulatory compliance and worker safety, contaminated with trace amounts of a chemotherapy familiarize yourself with the guidance and requirements drug, whether during drug administration or waste of the following: disposal, is disposed in trace chemotherapy yellow Occupational Safety and Health Administration bags or single-use containers (OSHA)’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) that covers proper hazard labeling and risk training Proper disposal prevents contamination of other areas of the hospital, including countertops, pens, OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard that covers IV pumps, doorknobs and elevator buttons how to mitigate needlestick injuries

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Resource Provide Comprehensive Staff Training Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) that Before interacting with chemotherapy waste, staff should includes regulations on disposal of hazardous fully understand: waste pharmaceuticals

Risks in handling chemotherapy drugs during drug National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health administration and disposal (NIOSH) guidelines

How to properly protect themselves, including what United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter PPE to use and when <800> that provides standards for the safe handling of hazardous drugs, which includes chemotherapy drugs How to correctly dispose of all materials related to chemotherapeutic drug delivery State and local regulated medical waste regulations

How to prepare containers for waste management pick up to avoid contaminating the environment

TO LEARN MORE about safeguarding staff during chemotherapy drug disposal and how to avoid workplace contamination

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