IAHSS1028_SafetyManualCover_Layout13/20/124:21PMPage1Chapter1818-1Chapter18:HazardousWasteOperationsandEmergencyResponse(HAZWOPER)Chapter18HazardousWasteOperationsandEmergencyResponse(HAZWOPER)PaulPenn,MS,HEM,CHSP,CHEP,CHCMOBJECTIVESAfterreadingthischapter,thestudentshouldunderstandthefollowing:•Primaryhazardousmaterialsemergenciesthatmayaffectahealthcarefacility•HazardousmaterialsaspresentedintheHazardousWasteOperationsandEmergencyResponsestandard•Hazardsandvulnerabilitiesforhealthcarefacilitiesregardinghazardousmaterialsemergencies•ChallengesandsolutionstohazardousmaterialsemergenciesinahealthcareenvironmentUsingtheUSOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA)HazardousWasteOperationsandEmergencyResponse(HAZWOPER)standard(29CFR1910.120)astheframework,thischapteraddresseshazardousmaterialsemergencyresponseinahealthcarecontext.Let’sbeginbyemphasizingthispoint:HazardousmaterialsareHAZARDOUS!Hospitalsandhealthcareenvironmentsexistinaworldwherehazardousmaterialsareubiquitous,bothinternalandexternaltothesefacilities.Normally,thosedangerousproductsaremanagedaccordingtotheirintendeduseandhavelittlenegativeimpact.Aspartofthedrivetoensureasafeandhealthfulworkplaceandenvironment,effortsoverthepastdecadeshavereduced,eliminated,andsubstitutedmanyhazardousmaterialsusedinhealthcaresettings(withsomenotableexceptions,suchasalcohol-basedhandcleaners).Nonetheless,hazardousmaterialsarestillusedwithinandoutsideofhealthcare.Healthcareorganizationsmustbepreparedtorespondtoextraordinaryeventsinvolvingahazardousmaterial.Thischapteridentifieswaysthathazardousmaterialsmayaffectahealthcarefacility,itsoccupants,andtheenvironment.Methodsofsafelyandeffectivelyaddressingthosehazardousmaterialsemergenciesareaddressed.RelationshiptoMaterialinOtherChapters.Effectivemanagementofhazardousmaterialsispartofanoverallsafetyprogramandoverlapswithothertopicsinthismanual.Thetableattheendofthischapteridentifiessomekeyaspectsofhazardousmaterialsemergencymanagementrelatedtomaterialprimarilyaddressedelsewhereinthismanual.SafetyManualtoHealthcareProfessionalSafetyCertificateProgram18-2WhatMakesaMaterialHazardous?Perhapsyou’veheardtheadage,“Anythingcankillyouinlargeenoughamounts.”Eventoomuchwatercankillyou.YoucanobtainaMaterialSafetyDataSheetforwater—somearewhimsical(http://www.madbadscience.com/Accessories/DHMO/)andsomearenot(http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927321).Asimpledefinitionofahazardousmaterialis“anythingthatgetsoutofitscontainerthatcancauseproblems.”Withinhealthcarefacilities,hazardousmaterialscanbefoundinalmosteverydepartment.Often,thecharacteristicsthatmakeproductshazardousalsomakethemuseful(e.g.,flammablesasfuel,poisonsasdisinfectants).Otherchemicalshavenon-hazardouscharacteristicsthatdeterminetheiruse,whichmayresultinusersandhandlersnottreatingtheproductswithduecare(e.g.,xyleneandisopropylalcoholareflammablebutusedassolvents).Otherhazardousmaterialsincludebiohazardouswasteandbloodbornepathogens.Thesearecoveredindetailinchapter8,InfectionControlandPrevention.Hazardousmaterials/waste/substancescanbedefinedinvariousways.ThischapterusestheHAZWOPERstandard’sdefinitionofahazardoussubstance,delineatedinthetableonthispage.ThetableonthenextpageliststheninehazardousmaterialsclassesusedbytheUSDepartmentofTransportation(asnotedinthepriortable)andgivesexamplesofeach.WhatIsaHazardousSubstanc...
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