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TRAINING/OTHER > Details
Hazardous Waste Legislation is complicated and therefore, even
if not required by legislation, training of the requirments of the
legislation should be put in place.
Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005
- Introduce instructions for storing and disposing EACH AND EVERY
kind of Hazardous Waste produced on your premises. Ensure that
all employees and contractors are provided with and follow these
instructions.
Mecury/Amalgam Safety Policy
An example of policy/training can be seen below:
Basic Principles
Wherever there is risk of mercury exposure in the hospital following
equipment breakage, there should be located, reasonably close by,
the means to prevent spreading of the mercury and to limit vapour
exposure. Spillages should be reported to the Health and Safety
Officer or to a central administration office. Waste mercury must
be disposed of in accordance with the regional procedures for dealing
with this.
Control Measures
Mercury spillage kits should be provided on the hospital site in
order to allow rapid access in the event of spillage. The level
of risk should be assess, based on the number of mercury-containing
thermometers and sphygmomanometers in use and the frequency of replacement
due to breakage or repair.
Training
Staff should be given adequate training in the use of mercury spillage
kits; in the reporting procedures required and also the proper routes
for obtaining spares and the disposal of waste.
Maintenance and Reporting
The Health and Safety Officer or administration office will be able
to monitor the use of the mercury spillage kits deployed throughout
the hospital, maintaining them in a condition suitable for use during
their storage life. The reporting form will allow the assessment
of speed of response in the event of spillage, which in turn can
be used in training and target setting. We have drafted some sample
forms to help you design yours.
Disposal
Waste mercury should be disposed of as hazardous waste. Many hospitals
choose to double-bag the full waste containers and incinerate them;
however it is more environmentally acceptable to forward the waste
for reclaiming of the mercury. This can be arranged through the
health authority (as is done for dental waste) or via a contractor.
Alternatively, the waste mercury can be disposed of as Hazardous
Waste via a contractor.
More details of the above can be viewed at:
Mecury
Safety
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