People go to a medical area to improve their health-not to get sick! Yet there is a wide range of environmental issues associated with medical facilities that can put people at risk. Due to the potentially infectious nature of the waste they typically generate, some of the waste management, air quality and chemical storage issues encountered at medical facilities differ from those of other departments across campus. Among the issues you should be alert to are:

• Sharps
• Regulated medical (biohazardous) waste
• Medical waste incinerators
• Amalgam handling and disposal
• Developer/fixer disposal and silver recovery
• Laboratory waste
• Body Fluids

As with most environmental regulations, a good summary of what is required for compliance can save you a lot of time. That's exactly what you'll find as you continue through this section of the EVC.