Comments on: More Serious Offenses

By: DensityDuck

DensityDuck — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:39:17 +0000

CFLs don’t require hazmat teams to clean up.

Industrial production that uses mercury in its process requires a hazmat team to clean up.

And idiot housewives who watch too much daytime TV hear wild stories about mercury causing autism and panic when they break a light bulb.

PS I don’t know about you, but we’ve got a warehouse full of 55-gallon drums of 1,1,1-TCE just in case we need it. You can get away with a lot when you’re part of the government’s strategic deterrence production industry!

By: rapnzl rn

rapnzl rn — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 05:52:17 +0000

Better late to this party than never.

Try chemotherapy on for size. One bucket for PPE, a separate bucket for the bags, tubing, syringes, etc.

And what exactly are we doing with body fluids of patients on chemo (God forbid they should have any)? Let’s just say that not much has changed.

As always, right on WC!

By: ChuckInMI

ChuckInMI — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:22:15 +0000

“Is there something about water treatment centers that can filter out sewage but that somehow misses vicodin pills? ”

Actually there is. Water treatment plants use algae in huge outdoor tanks to “eat up” nitrates, then use bacteria to break down fiber and other undigestible substances. These 2 processes do nothing for unmetabolized medicines.

If the water treatment plant uses activated charcoal filters before dumping the “treated” waste into your stream, then that would take out the meds. It all depends on the rules and budget the waste treatment plant is working with.

This is such a big problem that my fishing magazine has studies on this sometimes. One study tested 6 streams in the US for about 10 unmetabolized meds. All streams had at least one medicine in it. Another study noted that male fish testes were actually producing eggs! How Frankenstein-weird is that?

Another study tested peoples’ blood for a pharmaceutical metabolite, which acted as an endocrine disruptor. 90% of people tested positive for this substance.

By: Episode 50: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Episode 50: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:25:30 +0000

[...] And last for the news, an funny (and sarcastic!) article about the absurdities for JHACO and other r… [...]

By: Ben P

Ben P — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:28:34 +0000

and what if that waterproof barrier fails after 300 years? then what?

By: Hammie

Hammie — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:09:47 +0000

Maybe JCAHO should be introduced to Tony Hayward.

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:02:01 +0000

Just so we can get a baseline here, how many bags do other countries use? Anyone know? Must suck if their color code is different and you work internationally.

By: Doc99

Doc99 — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:20:00 +0000

Every month, households all over NYC regularly deposit Infectious Waste into their garbage cans for the Sanitation Department to pick up and dispose of. There are no “Red Bags,” etc. “Universal Precautions” are obviously somewhat less than universal. Does this mean JCAHO will soon be making home visits?

By: Don Miller

Don Miller — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:37:55 +0000

I work for a machine shop. We make a lot of parts for the medical industry.

We quit using 1,1,1-TCE years ago. Our degreasing agent of choise is a biodegrable water based product. Has been for many years.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:06:42 +0000

Density,
Do you use Compact fluorescent lamps? Or regular fluorescent tubes. Ever break one? Better hope that you don’t. It requires a hazmat team for cleanup and removal.
You don’t just throw them away do you? They are considered Universal Waste and must be decontaminated prior to disposal. Which company do you use for this?

BTW 1,1,1 trichloroethane has been off the market for years.

Comments on: *More* Serious Offenses