Both the Florida Department of Health and Human Services and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are responsible for this program. The Department of Environmental Protection has primary responsibility for the incineration and final disposal of biomedical waste. The Ministry of Health has the primary authority and responsibility for facilities that produce, transport, store or process biomedical waste through processes other than incineration. If biomedical waste is poorly treated, there is a risk for health workers, health workers and the general public to develop dangerous diseases. Section 381.0098, Florida Statutes and Chapter 64E-16, of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC) (60kb PDF), provides guidance to facilities that generate biomedical waste to help them ensure proper management of that waste. A biomedical waste management plan template (PDF 38 KB) is available to help institutions document their biomedical waste management procedures. Many facilities have their biomedical waste removed by a licensed biomedical waste carrier. The 1993 Florida Legislature funded the biomedical waste management program through the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund. Additional funding will be provided through the annual registration of biomedical waste carriers and the annual approval of storage and treatment facilities, as well as production facilities that produce at least £25 of biomedical waste over a 30-day period of the year. Approximately 30,000 such facilities are inspected each year.
However, the approximately 12,000 production facilities, which produce less than 25 pounds of biomedical waste each 30-day period of the year, are exempt from the permit fee and are inspected every three years. Biomedical waste generated by individuals in their own homes using diagnostic syringes or lancets must also be treated properly. Many homeowners can find help through a local needle collection program. If biomedical waste is generated in a home by injury or other serious traumatic conditions, the Guidelines for Household Cleaning of Biomedical Waste (PDF 40 KB) provide guidance on proper cleaning or cleaning of trauma scenes can be contacted to manage on-site decontamination. The Department maintains inspection data for biomedical waste management operations. The Ministry of Health`s guidelines on biomedical waste management help facilities ensure the proper identification, separation, containment, storage and labelling of biomedical waste. The department has established parameters for the safe handling and treatment of biomedical waste in Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code (60kb PDF). The department has also compiled lists of commercial biomedical waste treatment facilities and red bags for biomedical waste containment that meet the standards of Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code. Other red bags may also be used if they meet or exceed the construction standards required by Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code. Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code directs biomedical waste management facilities to provide training to personnel whose responsibilities include certain aspects of biomedical waste management. These staff are trained before undertaking tasks related to biomedical waste and receive an annual refresher course afterwards. The training describes the procedures included in the facility`s written operating plan, as well as compliance with Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code.
A video on VHS cassette, CD or DVD to support the training can be purchased from the Ministry of Health for USD 22.00. The order form can be downloaded from the Applications and Forms section. Complaints about biomedical waste are investigated by the county health department. Small amounts of improperly disposed biomedical waste are cleaned up under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. Emergencies are referred to the Emergency Response Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection at (850) 245-2010. There are approximately 44,000 facilities in Florida that generate biomedical waste. These include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, funeral homes, dentists, veterinarians, doctors, pharmacies that offer flu vaccines, piercing parlors, tattoo shops, transporters, and storage and treatment facilities. The objective of the Biomedical Waste Management Program is to protect health workers, environmental health workers, biomedical waste carriers and the general public from the risks associated with potentially infectious biomedical waste. .