“Clinical Risk Waste” is waste produced in a Healthcare Environment which is capable of causing illness, harm or death to humans due to its potential infectious, sharp or chemical attributes when mismanaged or released into the environment.
“Clinical Waste Management” involves the safe, compliant management of all waste streams produced by Healthcare Professionals during the treatment of humans/ animals. The waste is segregated into two categories Healthcare Waste and Healthcare Risk Waste.
EWC Services
All our services are designed to help healthcare professionals mitigate the risks imposed by the production of clinical risk waste in their business, whilst meeting their statutory producer responsibilities. EWC are the market specialists in auditing existing waste cycles and advising management on areas for improvement, non-compliances, risk management and potential cost savings through better waste management practices and waste efficiencies.
Our waste audits examine the production, packaging, segregation, transport, treatment and reporting procedures for each waste stream and document this process for potential audits by external authorities (HIQA, HSA, Local Authorities)
Legislative Controls
The Waste Management Act, 1996, Waste Management (amendment) Act 2001 and the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 126 of 2011) control the management of hazardous waste within Ireland. These acts clearly state that the correct handling, storage, treatment and disposal of all Clinical Waste, remains the responsibility of the producer until final treatment has occurred. The Producer is also responsible for the safety of staff, contractors and members of the public who may be exposed to the waste. Furthermore it requires that each business producing Clinical waste must maintain records as proof to all inspectorates that their waste was managed in the correct manner.
Definitions
“Medical or Clinical waste are wastes derived from the medical treatment of animals or humans or from bio-research” – ADR 2.2.62.1.3, Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road 2013
“Healthcare risk waste is classified as hazardous or dangerous due to the risk of it being infectious or because it contains used sharp materials that could cause injury” – Department of Health & Children (Healthcare Risk Waste Management, Segregation, Packaging and Storage Guidelines for Healthcare Risk Waste November 2010)
