Saving the environment makes cents

Tony Badrick

Cost of Clinical Laboratories?Healthcare has a massive carbon footprint: Brazil: Hospital account for 10.6% of the countrys total commercial energy consumption

USA: Health-care buildings are the second most energy- intensive commercial sector buildings, using about twice as much energy per square foot as traditional office space. They spend about US $8.5 billion a year on energy.

England: The NHS has calculated its carbon footprint at more than 18 million tonnes of CO2 each year - 25% of total public sector emissions.

But: Laboratories are major sources of wasteWaterPowerToxic chemicalsHeatInfectious materialLaboratories are very regulatedThey are used to continuous improvementThey all have ISO 15189/9000

What are the benefits of an Environmental Management System?Improved Environmental Performance reduced waste

Compliance with regulations and legislation

Some preparation for business continuity problems

Improved corporate image (internal and external)

Cost Reductions

Principles of ISO 14001

PLANEnvironmental AspectsRecord the different aspects of the businessNormal / Abnormal / EmergencyConsider Past, Ongoing and Planned aspects

Evaluate the aspects to decide which are significant

Practice wide significant environmental aspectsWater usageEnergy usageConsumablesWasteChemicalsBiologicalGeneral / Recycling

PLANPLANLegal and Other Requirements- Specific to activity eg permit to store DGSpecific to a product or service eg licence to discharge waste to sewerSpecific to industry eg building licenceGeneral Federal, State & local Council legislation / permits

Objectives, targets and programmes

DOPen musterRecycle specimen bagsSeparate & recycle waste: paper, plastics 1-5Fluorescent tubesStyrofoamIT consumablesToner savings for printers font sizeDouble sided photocopyingTreatment of liquid waste

DODocumentation / Control of DocumentsCorporate Quality ManualLocal Quality ManualsDirect links between ISO 14001 & ISO 9001Emergency Preparedness and Response - Fire / Chemical / Internal EmergencyPoliciesEnvironmental Management PolicyCode of Practice Incentive Programs / campaignsControl requirements

CHECKMonitoring and MeasurementKPIs for stationery usage, waste disposal, water and energy usage etc.Evaluation of ComplianceLegal ObligationsNon-conformity, corrective and preventative actionsControl of RecordsInternal Audits

REVIEW / ACTManagement Review

Implementing ISO 14001Complementarity of environmental, OHS & lean managementReduce toxinsReduce wasteReduce useConflict of environmental, OHS & lean management Recycling eg sharpsLean vs OHS vs environment

Recycle

install new skips & binssmall bins for general waste; large bins for recyclingshredding confidential papers as generatedall paper & cardboard productsgeneral recycling, including 24hr urine bottlesPlastics 1-5 inside contactXylene & formalin recycling on siteLandcare volunteers & project support

Reuse

specimen bagspaper / memos etc in printerslimit reuse- number of recycles- integrity of materials- maintenance of barrier / sterility- chemical changes eg rancid oils; threshhold levels of contaminants

Treatment of Liquid Trade WasteXylene recycling on site Treatment of stains

Activated carbon column for treatment of haematology & Gram stains

Following passage through column, pH is adjusted to 7-9 prior to discharge.

Plastic reuse & reduceVacutainer barrels:Clean & re-use barrels:80,000 barrels per year used (@3.3g) = 264 kg plastic70% Ethanol: 18 534 bottles = 932 kg plastic

Single use barrels: ~2.5 million barrels/yr = 8.25tNo plastic bottles

1.2 tonnes cf 8.25 tonnes

Single use = 7x amount of plastic

Achieved

Chart1

4962050

63.568.5Feb50

7173Mar50

6264.5Apr50

610May50

6759.5Jun50

6658Jul50

56.50Aug50

6658.5Sep50

66.549Oct50

00Nov50

89139.5Dec50

2008

2009

2010

Target 2010

Month

Waste (kg)

Grafton Confidential Paper Waste

Sheet1

Clinical Waste

200820092010

Jan63136104

Feb7352.5

Mar82.560

Apr7354

May6069

Jun71.5126

Jul75.5177

Aug6675

Sep80.5171

Oct70183.5

Nov56.5130.5

Dec48.5119

Confidential Waste

200820092010

Jan4962050

Feb63.568.550

Mar717350

Apr6264.550

May61050

Jun6759.550

Jul665850

Aug56.5050

Sep6658.550

Oct66.54950

Nov0050

Dec89139.550

Sheet1

2008

2009

2010

Month

Clinical Waste (kg)

Grafton Clinical Waste

Sheet2

2008

2009

2010

Target 2010

Month

Waste (kg)

Grafton Confidential Paper Waste

Sheet3

Achieved

Chart2

63136104

7352.5Feb

82.560Mar

7354Apr

6069May

71.5126Jun

75.5177Jul

6675Aug

80.5171Sep

70183.5Oct

56.5130.5Nov

48.5119Dec

2008

2009

2010

Month

Clinical Waste (kg)

Grafton Clinical Waste

Sheet1

Clinical Waste

200820092010

Jan63136104

Feb7352.5

Mar82.560

Apr7354

May6069

Jun71.5126

Jul75.5177

Aug6675

Sep80.5171

Oct70183.5

Nov56.5130.5

Dec48.5119

Confidential Waste

200820092010

Jan4962050

Feb63.568.550

Mar717350

Apr6264.550

May61050

Jun6759.550

Jul665850

Aug56.5050

Sep6658.550

Oct66.54950

Nov0050

Dec89139.550

Sheet1

2008

2009

2010

Month

Clinical Waste (kg)

Grafton Clinical Waste

Sheet2

2008

2009

2010

Target 2010

Month

Waste (kg)

Grafton Confidential Paper Waste

Sheet3

Achieved

Chart1

0313297

0318334

250221217

246219203.4

2007

2008

2009

Mth

KwH/Day

Grafton Energy Usage

Sheet1

JanAprJulOct

200700250246

2008313318221219

2009297334217203.4

Sheet1

2007

2008

2009

Mth

KwH/Day

Grafton Energy Usage

Sheet2

Sheet3

Achieved

Chart1

March488712

5235421344

500623859

571566443

2007

2008

2009

Month

L/Day

Grafton Water Usage

Sheet1

March488712

May5235421344

Aug /Sept500623859

Nov / Dec571566443

Sheet1

2007

2008

2009

Month

L/Day

Grafton Water Usage

Sheet2

Plumber investigation organised by landlord for excessive use - no leaks or faults found.

Sheet3

Results

Results

PapersProposals for the mitigation of the environmental impact of clinical laboratories. Lopez and Badrick. Clin Chem Lab Med 2012;50(9):15591564 2012 International Fed Clin Chem Guideline Document

Outcomes and challenges of implementing an ISO 14001:2004 environmental management system in a clinical laboratory. Reid, Kehrer, Badrick. J Aust Med Sc. 2012;33: 88-95.

Implementing ISO14001:2004 environmental management system in a clinical laboratory: challenges and staff attitudes.Reid, Kehrer, Badrick. Submitted Quality Progress. 2012

The Impact on Costs and Efficiency of Reducing the Number of Collected Tubes. Hobson and Badrick. In press Clin Chem Lab Med 2012.

What is next?Australia further work on recycling

Awareness

SE Asia pilot site Asian Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry

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