AST Guideline - Environmental Practices in the Operating Room

5 5. The next step of the SLC and surgery department subcommittee is to develop action plans that include the methods and strategies for achieving each goal. 6. Continuing education (CE) and training is a critical factor to the success of a waste management program. Establishing sustainability efforts and segregation of waste does not involve learning new technology, but is focused on changing the behavior of the surgery personnel in order to meet the goals of the HDO. 30 A. CE in-services should be developed and offered by the surgery department subcommittee for initial and on-going training purposes. Additionally, it is recommended that the subcommittee distribute training materials such as posters placed in each OR, and written documents and updates distributed via E-mail. The training can also be used to create “buy-in” by the surgery personnel in the sustainability efforts of the department. A. Surgery personnel require clear, consistent information that provides them with the goals of the sustainability program; reasons for waste segregation that are backed by regulations; information on the impacts to the health and safety of the community and overall environment; HDO’s environmental leadership in the community; and financial aspects. 15 B. Continuing education in-services allow the surgery department subcommittee to communicate the action plans to the surgical staff. C. The education should be an on-going effort to reinforce the sustainability efforts of the HDO as well as introduce new green practices in the surgery department. B. The following is a list of recommendations for areas of focus regarding continuing education. A. New employee orientation should include training in the waste management program. 30 B. Basic information about healthcare waste and its impact on the HDO, environment, and safety. 15 C. Basic information about the HDO’s overall waste management plan. D. Each surgery department employee’s role and responsibility in participating in the waste management plan. 15 E. Initial and annual training of all surgery personnel in waste segregation. F. Updates in the progress of the surgery department’s participation in the sustainability efforts. G. Updates and review of state and federal regulations (annually or when necessary). 7. The surgery department subcommittee should establish a process through which surgical staff can communicate issues and problems to the subcommittee who will then communicate the information to the SLC. This also contributes to building a positive environment of overall team participation in the green efforts.