People go to a medical area to improve their health-not to get sick! Yet there is a wide range of environmental issues associated with medical facilities that can put people at risk. Due to the potentially infectious nature of the waste they typically generate, some of the waste management, air quality and chemical storage issues encountered at medical facilities differ from those of other departments across campus. These are applicable not only to medical areas but teaching hospitals and departments too. Among the issues you should be alert to are:

• Sharps
• Hazardous clinical waste
• Clinical waste incinerators
• Amalgam handling and disposal
• Developer/fixer disposal and silver recovery
• Laboratory waste
• Body Fluids

As with most environmental regulations, a good summary of what is required for compliance can save you a lot of time. That's exactly what you'll find as you continue through this section of the EVC.