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This is a full transcript of the online presentation. For the
presentation itself, go here. Presented
by:
Edith Coulter, MPH
Environmental Administrator
Division of Environmental Health
Contact Number: 850-245-4444 Ext. 2335
Hello my name is Edith Coulter Im an Environmental Health program
consultant, with the Florida Department of Health. My responsibilities
include coordination for the management of biomedical waste in the state of
Florida.
Biomedical waste management in the state of Florida has very specific regulations
and documentation requirements. Precise adherence will be critical in any
preparedness state or event involving potentially infectious waste. The
guidelines are meant to begin the process of specifically planning for
heightened events in your area. The operative word here being planning.
Dont wait until an event occurs, plan ahead to ensure youre prepared.
What can you do to make your prepared? Be familiar with the community
locations for biomedical waste in your area. Make a list of the key
partners in these fields. Make a list of the
generators, the hospitals, the laboratories. Make a list of any storage
facilities that are permitted by the department. Make a list of
transporters that are registered with the department. Make a list of the
treatment facilities that may be permitted by health or Department of
Environmental Protection
Asses the preparedness levels in your area. On a daily basis each of
these facilities must have a biomedical waste operating plan. That plan
details procedures for their management of biomedical waste, from the
minute its generated to the time its disposed. It includes a requirement
for a contingency plan in the event that the transporters or the treatment
facilities that are identified in the normal operating plan are unable to
provide services. The Department of Health has developed a model plan for
any facilities that do not have one. Its important to ensue that all of
the facilities in your area have staff that have a working knowledge of
their plan including a contingency plan.
You need to ask yourself the question: Can the facilities in my area go
to a higher security arrangement if it becomes necessary? In a bioterrorism
event can they handle additional amounts of biomedical waste that might be
generated? Is local law enforcement available to ensure heightened levels
of security thru transport of potentially infectious material? Do
facilities have a copy of Operation Vaccinate Florida guidelines? Can they follow it
again or can they modify it to meet another situation that may be similar?
If the generators in your area where required to go to a heightened level
would they be able to accommodate the maximum amount of biomedical waste
that might be generated? What about the transporters? Would their transport
capacity allow them to meet the needs during such an event? What about the
treatment, storage and treatment facilities? Can they handle the maximum
capacity and get it treated and disposed of?
Its important to communicate with state environmental health now to
help you and your facility with their plans. Its important that youre
available to any facilities in your area to provide assistance to them if
they need it.
Biomedical waste transporters are a key partner in events of increased
capacity. You need to check with the transporters in your area and see
which ones are willing to transport biomedical waste when it involves something
that they perceive as something more dangerous, for example the smallpox
vaccine. Find out which ones are willing to transport higher risk
materials. Contact the transporters in your area, and identify those that
are willing to assist, and find out if theyre going to require some sort
of special packaging so those materials are on hand prior to an event.
In conclusion, just remember biomedical waste does not present a treat
of infection if existing regulations are followed. But you need to also ensure
that there are provisions to handle additional capacity and you need to
ensure that there are conditions that will allow for additional security
should there be a heightened security event. Thank you for you time, I
trust this information was helpful to you. Please let me know if I may
answer any questions or provide more information.
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