Pre-Acceptance Healthcare Waste Audits
RoadSafe Europe Limited are pleased to offer our no-nonsense, economical, but fully comprehensive Pre-Acceptance Waste Auditing services to NHS Trusts, private hospitals and clinics, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacies, research facilities and other associated healthcare waste producers.
All healthcare providers have a Duty of Care to ensure that the waste they produce, handle, transport, treat or dispose of is dealt with correctly, and most importantly - safely. Under the Duty of Care, producers must provide information on the composition of the waste to the disposal contractor. This ensures your waste is suitable for the chosen method of disposal (treatment, landfill or incineration). All waste streams, not just healthcare must be audited, documented and ultimately communicated to the final disposal points. Failure to audit can leave you in breach of your Duty of Care responsibilities, which in turn can lead to prosecution, and potentially unlimited fines.
Significant cost savings can also be achieved as a result of these audits through the correct segregation and classification of wastes into the differing waste-streams (The Royal College of Nursing (view the report here) has estimated a potential annual saving of £5.5 million for the NHS if just 20% of the current incorrectly classified infectious waste were to be re-classified as offensive wastes).
Audits may be completed by your own staff or external expertise may be used, including a representative from your waste contractor, or by a third party consultant such as RoadSafe Europe. But, it's vitally important that those carrying out the audit are both suitably trained and competent, with a clear understanding of clinical waste - its composition, classification, packaging and transportation.
We would be pleased to offer written references from NHS Trusts we have helped previously upon request for your peace-of-mind.
Required auditing frequency:
| Sites producing >5 tonnes per annum (e.g. Hospitals) | Annual auditing |
| Dentists / veterinary practices, and research facilities | Every two years |
| Doctor and GP surgeries | Every five years |
| Other healthcare (not involving doctors or hospitals) | Every five years |
| Care / Nursing homes | Every five years |
| Community pharmacies | Every five years |
| Other healthcare not listed above (<5 tonnes per annum) | Every five years |
It is also worth noting that the Environment Agency have the right to view copies of pre-acceptance audits via your waste contractor as part of their enforcement remit, and that they do not therefore have to ask your permission to do so.
If you would like a quotation for us to conduct a pre-acceptance waste audit, or you have any questions, just ask a member of our team on 02380 702576, or by email at: [email protected]