Gold University of Minnesota M. Skip to main content.University of Minnesota.
 
Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
Intern Program
Materials Exchange
Resources
Wastes
Industries
 

Dry Cleaning

Energy Conservation

Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Food Processing

Health Care

Iron Mining

Laboratories

Machining & Metal Fabrication

Metal Finishing

Metalcasting

Painting & Wood
Finishing


Paper Mills

POTWs

Printing

Vehicle Maintenance

Water Conservation

 

 

 

MnTAP logo   612.624.1300
  800.247.0015
 
  Home > Industries > Health Care
resource printable PDF
 

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing—Meeting JCAHO Standards with Pollution Prevention

Pollution prevention (P2) activities make great performance improvement initiatives. They can help you achieve JCAHO standards included in the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (CAMH) and meet rules, regulations and Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) goals. They also promote the health of the public-keeping in line with the basic premise of health care.

Institute purchasing policies and requests for proposals at the organization asking for products that are environmentally preferable.

Request products that are less toxic, have less or reusable packaging and are reparable or can be leased. This minimizes the risk, regulation and costs associated with hazardous materials, reduces costs associated with waste management and improves occupational safety.

For more information about EPP, and sample policies and requests for proposals, see the H2E Web site, or the EPA’s EPP site.

EPP cuts waste and improves occupational safety.

 

 



Health Care
- HEARRT
Dental Clinics
Disinfection & Cleaning
Hospitals
Laboratories
Mercury
Pharmacies
Consumer Information

Training & Associations
Regulatory Information
A to Z Waste Topics

Achieve JCAHO CAMH Standards Meet Rules, Regulations and Goals
EC.1, EC.1.2: The organization plans for a safe environment and implements its plan.
  Using environmentally preferable products provides for a safe environment by lowering the risk to employees, patients and visitors associated with hazardous material management.

EC.2, EC.2.2: The organization plans for employee safety and implements its plan.
  Using environmentally preferable products improves employee safety by lowering the risk of spills and risk to employees associated with hazardous materials.

EC.4: The organization improves conditions in the environment.
  Using environmentally preferable products improves conditions in the environment by lowering the risk of employee, patient and visitor exposure, and reducing pollution in the community.

PI.2: Improved and new processes are well designed and consider patient safety.
  Using environmentally preferable products improves patient safety by reducing the risk of patient exposure to hazardous materials.
Clean Air Act, public law 101-549
Title V permits may be required for ethylene oxide

Clean Water Act, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 122 and 403
Hospital wastewater, 40 CFR 460
Local wastewater permits. Restrict discharge of certain chemicals, heavy metals and high biological loads to sanitary sewer.

Community Right to Know, 40 CFR 302-304, 311, 312. Plan for and report to local emergency planning committee extremely hazardous substances and certain hazardous materials.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Basis for disposal, distribution, regulation, sale and use of pesticides—including algicides, disinfectants, germicides, sterilants and swimming pool compounds—in the U.S.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication/ Employee Right to Know, 29 CFR 1910.1200

P2 Act of 1990, U.S. Code (USC) Title 43 the Public Health and Welfare Chapter 133. Established P2 as a national policy and developed a hierarchy of waste management.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 40 CFR 261-263
Requirements for hazardous waste management
Waste minimization sec 3002(b)

Universal Waste Rule. Reduced regulatory requirements for batteries and mercury-containing equipment if they are recycled.

H2E goal. Reduce volume and toxicity of all types of waste 30 percent by 2005 and 50 percent by 2010.

 

Pollution prevention activities that make great performance improvement initiatives:

mercury | solid waste | infectious waste | chemicals and waste | hazardous waste spills and exposure | ignitable chemicals | pest management | pharmaceutical management | patient safety | environmentally preferable purchasing

JCAHO introduction page

 

 
 
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.