Guide to JCAHO Environment of Care Standard 3.10.10
© 2005
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Any use of any or all of the Joint Commission standards
and elements of performance beyond this particular tool
is strictly forbidden without the written permission
of the Joint Commission. Citations from JCAHO standards are ©2005 Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Any use of any or all of the Joint Commission standards and elements of performance beyond this particular tool is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the Joint Commission. These pages do not reflect any changes in the standards made after 2005. |
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Introduction Table of Contents Checklist for 3.10.10
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Environment of Care Standard 3.10: The organization manages hazardous materials and waste risks Element of Performance 10. Separation of hazardous materials and waste storage The organization effectively separates hazardous materials and waste storage and processing areas from other areas of the facility. |
This page provides
a set of criteria for evaluating how well
a facility complies with regulations
covering the separation of hazardous materials and waste. The
idea is to ensure that anyone passing through a location where
hazardous materials and wastes are processed or stored is aware
of the presence of and can easily distinguish containers of
these materials, and is alert to the hazards they can pose.
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The criteria are divided into several topic areas. |
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Hazardous Materials Management
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Storage cabinets
and/or storage rooms are available for the storage of
flammable liquids and other
hazardous chemicals as appropriate..
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Contracts can include take back provisions for items such as computers, batteries, pharmaceuticals, etc. because there is adequate space to collect the items. | |||
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Hazardous materials use is diminished to reduce spill and exposure risk. | |||
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Space is provided for the distillation or recovery of laboratory solvents such as xylene, alcohol, and formalin | |||
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Emergency spill hotline number is readily available. |
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Containers of hazardous waste are marked with the words ¿Hazardous
Wasteî, and a descriptive name of the waste.
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Adequate space is
available to segregate and appropriately handle incompatible
wastes and hybrid wastes (e.g. radioactive mixed with
hazardous wastes, infectious mixed with hazardous wastes).
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Hazardous waste
storage areas are secure and prevent release to the environment
(e.g. secondary containment of containers is in use,
floor drains are sealed, containers are not leaking,
and containers are kept closed).
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Adequate aisle space
is maintained in hazardous waste storage area to ensure
access to containers in event of spill or leak.
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Weekly
inspections of the hazardous waste storage areas are
performed and documented according to written procedures Inspections
include checking for leaks, corroded containers, and
other potential problems.
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Storage cabinets
and/or storage rooms are available for the storage of
flammable liquids.
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Hazardous waste use is diminished to reduce spill and exposure risk. | |||
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Hazardous waste generator size is reduced. |
Regulated Medical (Infectious) Waste
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Adequate medical
waste storage areas are provided and kept secured. Door
is labeled with OSHA biohazard symbol.
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Refrigeration available
when necessary to prevent putrefaction of medical waste.
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Adequate medical waste storage area is provided near shipping location, and kept secured. Door to storage areas and loading dock is labeled with OSHA biohazard symbol. | |||
| Blood Borne Pathogens | ||||
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Specimens of blood or other potentially infectious materials are placed in a container which prevents leakage during collection, handling, processing, storage, transport, or shipping | |||
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When moving containers of contaminated sharps from the area of use, the containers are closed immediately prior to removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping | |||
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Certified biological safety cabinets (Class I, II, or III) where needed are available and used |
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Storage space for
universal waste is maintained.
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Containers are structurally
sound.
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Recycling occurs
within one year of initial accumulation.
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Containers are properly
labeled with the name of the universal waste and the
accumulation start date. (e.g., “Universal Waste
Batteries”).
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Records, documents,
and procedures indicate that Universal Waste (e.g., batteries)
are not stored or accumulated on site for longer than
one year.
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| Radioactive Materials and Waste | |
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Radioactive materials are safely stored and secured in area(s) labeled with appropriate hazard warning signs |
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Tanks are located
a safe distance from other areas of the facility.
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Facility design provides ample and convenient space for staging hazardous materials and waste that facilitates recycling. | |||
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Facility design incorporates appropriate spaces throughout the building for recycling, reuse and accumulation of items for manufacturer take-back |
