Insist on certified containers

Insist on

certified containers

hile the focus during the been on the detection and prevention of infection, Jodi Scholtz, lead administrator, SABS, stresses that there needs to be increased vigilance concerning the containment and disposal of all medical waste products. Furthermore, the end-to-end handling process of containing and disposing of hazardous waste must be guided by the various existing national standards and quality management systems.

“While there are several specifications and regulations that guide the use, containment, transport and disposal of hazardous waste, there is no overarching independent verification of the overall process. Various service providers are involved at different stages of the process and there is a need for tighter controls of the overall process,” says Scholtz.

“Even though discussions are under way with various regulatory stakeholders, all industries that are responsible for the disposal of hazardous materials and of its packaging or used products need to insist that service providers are using certified containers. If self-regulation within the industry becomes more robust, there will be a reduced need for additional strain on regulatory

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the collection and disposal of hazardous waste is a critical focus area that requires greater self-regulation by the industry, general increased vigilance, and insistence on the use of certified containers by authorities.

Wongoing pandemic has largely

authorities to enforce compliance.”

Certification and testing

In line with UN recommendations and SANS 10229-1, the Department of Transport requires that containers used to transport hazardous and medical waste be tested and that the transporters carry a certificate that provides proof of this. These certificates are valid for 12 months, effective from the date of the test. Any accredited testing authority may conduct tests and issue certificates.

According to Scholtz, the SABS has been testing packaging and containers for the removal of hazardous waste since 2005 and has a dedicated and operational packaging laboratory. The SABS is also able to offer inspection services to all spheres of government and the private medical industry to ensure that the containment, collection and disposal of hazardous waste is performed according to accepted national standards.

Some of the common test methods include drop tests to ensure the contents do not spill or distort, water absorption tests to ensure that the packaging is resistant, tests to validate the integrity of the packaging in various conditions, and compression tests to ensure that packaging can retain its integrity when stacked. Needle penetration tests are applicable to any medical waste packaging.

The SABS Mark Scheme, commonly referred to as ‘SABS Approved’, provides confidence in the quality of the products and the production processes to manufacture the product. Samples are collected from the production facility and retail outlets (where relevant) at various intervals over a three-year cycle to ensure that quality products are produced all the time.

Loopholes

Scholtz highlights that there are several potential loopholes in the current certification of packaging for the disposal of hazardous medical waste, namely: • Manufacturers supply their own samples for testing. This is problematic as there is no indication or verification of the production processes. It is possible that a ‘golden sample’ is prepared for testing and subsequent reproductions are not subject to the same processes. • There is no regulation that guides the resale of tested products. For example, a company that

manufactures substandard products can resell to others, which threatens the health and safety of the country. • The use of the containers is currently unregulated and lacks any sort of inspection services.

Inspection needs to include the storage of these containers of hazardous waste while awaiting transportation for disposal and the disposal processes themselves.

Recommendations

Scholtz stresses that it is incredibly dangerous to communities, water supply and the environment if medical and hazardous waste is handled, transported and disposed of irresponsibly. The appropriate standards and processes must be applied to each step in the collection and disposal of hazardous waste.

Verification and certification from independent and accredited authorities, such as the SABS, have an important role to play in assisting regulators to ensure full compliance and the continued safety of people and resources.

Unannounced inspections, coupled with SANS/ ISO 14001 and SANS/ISO 45001 certification, will ensure that all companies meet the required statutory and regulatory requirements for the disposal of hazardous waste.