Archive for March, 2017

HazCom: Understanding ‘Hazard Not Otherwise Classified’

This post, HazCom: Understanding ‘Hazard Not Otherwise Classified’, first appeared on www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com. Responding is Robert Ernst, editor – workplace safety, J. J. Keller & Associates Inc., Neenah, WI. The revised Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) created a need to identify hazards not covered by the classes adopted from GHS or that OSHA did not adopt. So OSHA created the “Hazard Not Otherwise Classified” definition to cover health or physical hazards for which the standard […]

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Hey Dentists: No Business Associate Agreement, No Problem

Hey Dentists: No Business Associate Agreement, No Problem

This post, Hey Dentists: No Business Associate Agreement, No Problem, first appeared on www.jdsupra.com. According to the U.S. Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR), dental practices are not required to have a business associate agreement with their dental laboratory before sharing protected health information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to covered entities (including dental practices) and their business associates.  As you know, for the past few years, dental practices have been the target […]

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Why HR managers should review their HIPAA procedures

Why HR managers should review their HIPAA procedures

This post, Why HR managers should review their HIPAA procedures, first appeared on www.benefitnews.com. HIPAA audits are on the rise, and so are associated fines. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Civil Rights collected $23 million in fines, a 300% increase over 2014, the previous record year for fines. The increase in audits — combined with everything from changes in technology, the addition of a health and wellness program […]

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Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule

EPA FAQ: When will this rulemaking go into effect?

This content, Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule, first appeared on www.epa.gov. Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule Question: When will this rulemaking go into effect? Answer: As required by the Administrative Procedure Act, this rulemaking must undergo the notice and comment process. Once public comments are received, comments will be reviewed and the proposed rulemaking will be re-evaluated to determine if changes […]

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Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule

EPA FAQ: How do these proposed regulations differ from the current hazardous waste generator regulations?

This content, Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule, first appeared on www.epa.gov. Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule Question: How do these proposed regulations differ from the current hazardous waste generator regulations? Answer: Under current requirements any facility that generates hazardous pharmaceutical waste is subject to the RCRA hazardous waste generator regulations. These regulations vary depending on the total amount and type of […]

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Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule

EPA FAQ: Why do hazardous waste pharmaceuticals need new management standards?

This content, Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule, first appeared on www.epa.gov. Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule Question: Why do hazardous waste pharmaceuticals need new management standards? Answer: Healthcare workers and retail pharmacy employees are often unfamiliar with or confused by RCRA hazardous waste management requirements, prompting them to dispose of hazardous pharmaceuticals as municipal waste or medical waste. This proposed rule […]

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Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule

EPA FAQ: Why is management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals difficult under the RCRA subtitle C hazardous waste generator regulations?

This content, Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule, first appeared on www.epa.gov. Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule Question: Why is management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals difficult under the RCRA subtitle C hazardous waste generator regulations? Answer: Hazardous waste generation and management practices at healthcare facilities differ from practices of industrial hazardous waste generators in several ways that make the application of RCRA […]

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Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule

EPA FAQ: Which pharmaceuticals are considered hazardous waste?

This content, Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule, first appeared on www.epa.gov. Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule Question: Which pharmaceuticals are considered hazardous waste? Answer: As thousands of over-the-counter and prescription drugs are currently approved for sale in the United States, it is difficult to provide a precise number of pharmaceuticals that are considered hazardous waste. However, as with any other waste, […]

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Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule

EPA FAQ: What is the definition of pharmaceutical under the proposed rule?

This content, Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule, first appeared on www.epa.gov. Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule Question: What is the definition of pharmaceutical under the proposed rule? Answer: The proposed definition of pharmaceutical is “any chemical or biological product that is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, care, treatment, or prevention of disease or injury of a human or […]

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Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule

EPA FAQ: What is the definition of healthcare facility under the proposed rule and what is a pharmaceutical reverse distributor?

This content, Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule, first appeared on www.epa.gov. Frequent Questions about the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Proposed Rule Question: What is the definition of healthcare facility under the proposed rule and what is a pharmaceutical reverse distributor? Answer: EPA is proposing healthcare facility to mean any person that: provides preventative, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance or palliative care, and counseling, service, assessment or procedure […]

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