[Histonet] RE: Tossing old tissues...

[Ian R Bernard]

Under an approved fume hood for 10% formaldehyde fumes, we separate the reagent from the tissues. The liquid is disposed of in down the drain (approved in CO) and the tissues are left in the empty container and disposed of in biohazard bag/containers. This minimizes the weight going into each red bag container since this can be costly.  Keeping the container, helps minimizes the residue fumes associated with the biohazard containers for disposal workers.

IB

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Tom McNemar
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 9:04 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Tossing old tissues...

Hello all,

A question came up during our last JCAHO inspection regarding the dumping of old tissues.  Do you just throw out the intact specimen containers with formalin and all into biohazard trash?  Do you drain/collect the formalin for other disposal and just place the drained tissues into the biohazard trash?  If you drain/collect, do you wear a respirator while doing it?

We have always drained and only thrown the tissues into the bio trash and have not used a respirator.  We monitor regularly and always make certain to include this task (along with the making of formalin) when monitoring for exposure and are always way below the acceptable limits.  I don't think we have ever done and STEL just for the dumping of tissues though.

Just wondered what everyone else did.  I would like to stop draining and just dispose of container and all but we pay by the pound for disposal.

Thanks.

Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP)
Histology Co-ordinator
Licking Memorial Health Systems
(740) 348-4163
(740) 348-4166
tmcnemar <@t> lmhealth.org<mailto:tmcnemar <@t> lmhealth.org>
www.LMHealth.org<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\TMCNEMAR\Application%20Data\Microsoft\Signatures\www.LMHealth.org>

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