VH2E Holds First Informational Roundtable!
On February 22, 2006, 25 participants attended the first ever VH2E Informational Roundtable workshop. The workshop was held in Richmond and hosted by the Virginia Hospital Research & Education Foundation at the headquarters for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. The workshop’s topic was “Hospital Hazardous Waste”, and participants heard from Cecilia DeLoach of the national H2E program and Steve Frazier of the Virginia DEQ.
H2E’s Cecilia DeLoach gave an in-depth overview of hazardous wastes in hospitals and the typical types of mismanagement that occurs. From the lab to the pharmacy to chemo to the nursing station, Cecilia touched on the myriad of hazardous waste challenges that face our hospitals; and the reality that HW regulations are not a major management focus in many facilities.
Steve Frazier is the Virginia DEQ’s Hazardous Waste Coordinator and he detailed Virginia ’s Hazardous Waste Management Regulations as they apply to hospitals. Steve covered the details of a hazardous waste inspection, jurisdictional issues, and the specifics of what they’ve found in Virginia hospitals and laboratories. In addition, Steve introduced participants to the Virginia DEQ’s Compliance Assistance Visitation (CAV) program, which is targeting assistance to hospitals for 2006.
The CAV program is an excellent educational opportunity for hospitals to gauge their hazardous waste management techniques and understanding. Essentially, in the CAV program, the Virginia DEQ performs a hazardous waste inspection, noting problems and opportunities to improve. However, unlike a normal inspection, they do not issue violations for infractions – simply a list of issues to be addressed with the understanding that they will be taken care of in a timely fashion.** Five Virginia facilities have already volunteered to have a CAV visit, and several more have called to inquire.
** If “very serious” violations are discovered, the Virginia DEQ reserves the right to discontinue the CAV visit. If you are interested in the CAV program, please contact Tom Griffin at 804-698-4545.
Next Roundtable Workshop: the Challenges of Hospital Recycling!
We are currently collecting insight and success stories from Virginia hospitals. Please let us know about your recycling successes and failures! In addition, if you would like to host one of our workshops, we’d love to hear from you!
Tom Griffin, VH2E Coordinator
804-698-4545; rtgriffin@deq.virginia.gov