AST Guideline - Environmental Practices in the Operating Room

16 General waste : Non-hazardous waste that includes drapes, gloves, gowns, sponges, and towels that do not contain blood, body fluids or OPIM. Going green : Making environmentally friendly decisions including “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” Infectious waste : Medical waste that has been contaminated by a pathogenic organism and is capable of producing an infectious disease. Other potentially infectious material (OPIM) : As defined by OSHA OPIM includes t he following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids; (2) Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or dead); and (3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs, or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV. Sustainability practices : Practices implemented to protect the natural environment, human and ecological health, while driving innovation and not compromising our way of life, including renewable fuel sources, reducing carbon emissions and maintaining the delicate ecosystems of the planet. References 1. Ali M, Sreekrishnan TR. Aquatic toxicity from pulp and paper mill effluents: a review. Advances in Environmental Research . 2001; 5(2): 175-196. 2. Allen JW, Polk HC. A study of added costs of laparoscopic cholecystectomy based on surgery preference cards. The American Surgeon . 2002; 68(5): 474- 476. 3. American Hospital Association. Building sustainability teams. 2015. http://www.sustainabilityroadmap.org/strategies/greenteam.shtml#sustain. Accessed February 10, 2015. 4. Association of Surgical Technologists. AST continuing education policies for the CST and CSFA. 20005. http://www.ast.org/webdocuments/CEpolicies/. Accessed January 21, 2015. 5. Association of Surgical Technologists. Core curriculum for surgical technology . 2011. http://www.ast.org/uploadedFiles/Main_Site/Content/Educators/Core%20Curricul um%20v2.pdf. Accessed January 21, 2015. 6. Barlow RD. Proper liquid waste disposal mines solid gold bottom line. Healthcare Purchasing News . 2004. http://www.hpnonline.com/inside/2004- 06/liquid_waste_disposal.htm. Accessed March 21, 2015. 7. California Green Solutions. Healthcare/hospital recycling and waste management for blue wrap. 2006. http://www.californiagreensolutions.com/cgi- bin/gt/tpl.h,content=2232. Accessed March 8, 2015.