Any business or organization that produces medical waste will need to ensure they have access to appropriate disposal services. However, choosing the best medical waste disposal company isn’t always straightforward. To ensure you’ve got access to the specialist services you require without having to increase your budget, take a look at these five things to look for in a medical waste disposal company now:
1. Range of Waste Collected
Medical waste can take various forms, which means you’ll need to ensure your preferred medical waste disposal company can provide the particular services you require. A hospital may need hazardous RCRA waste disposal alongside chemotherapy disposal, for example, whereas an outpatient clinic may only require sharps disposal and general clinical waste disposal services.
By working with a medical waste disposal company that can provide the full range of services you need, you can avoid hiring multiple contractors and simplify your disposal strategy.
2. Frequency of Collections
Before you hire a medical waste disposal service provider, be sure to check how frequently they can visit your premises. Depending on the amount of waste generated, you may need multiple collections to be carried out on a daily basis. Alternatively, a once daily collection or every-other-day collection might be appropriate for smaller clinics or facilities. By discussing your expectations at the outset, you can ensure that your clinical waste disposal company can provide the level of service you require.
3. Staff Training
Collecting medical waste can be a dangerous job, so it’s important that staff are trained adequately. Although all medical waste should be contained in appropriate receptacles, these need to be handled safely to ensure there is no risk of harm or contamination to anyone. Talk to potential waste disposal companies about the training their staff receive to ensure you’re happy with the expertise and competency levels of the personnel who will be visiting your site to carry out a potentially hazardous role.
4. Specialist Equipment
As you might expect, medical waste needs to be processed in accordance with strict regulations. To adhere to these, medical waste disposal firms should have modified vehicles that are designed for the processing and transportation of clinical waste. In addition to this, all medical waste disposal service providers should have a range of insurance policies to provide an appropriate level of cover.
5. Bespoke Arrangement
When you’re brokering an agreement for medical waste disposal services, you may decide to have waste collected on specific days or budget for a certain amount of waste to be collected. However, there are times when you may need additional collections or services. Talk to potential partners in advance about the availability and costs associated with extra services, so that bespoke arrangements can be put into place when required.
Hiring a Medical Waste Disposal Company
Although some firms may offer reduced prices if you sign up for long-term contracts, this gives you limited flexibility if you’re unhappy with the service. By choosing a provider that offers rolling contracts or ad hoc services, you can retain the right to cancel at any time. Not only does this give you the option to work with the best provider but it also ensures that the medical waste disposal company you choose to work with will be motivated to continue providing the best possible service.
