Lexington Medical Center fined over handling of hazardous waste

A Midlands hospital paid a fine of $17,500 fine after state health inspectors flagged the hospital’s mishandling of hazardous waste.

Lexington Medical Center paid the fine to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control after DHEC’s inspectors accused the West Columbia hospital of violating the state’s rules for handling and disposing of hazardous medical material, according to a DHEC enforcement action report.

Lexington Medical Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

After an inspection of the hospital on Sunset Boulevard on June 6, an inspector cited Lexington Medical for a litany of missteps and oversights.

DHEC’s findings include a failure to insure the right person proper controlled the generated hazardous waste; failure to mark or label containers with the words “Hazardous Waste,” dates or the indication of the hazards inside; failure to keep containers closed except when adding or removing waste; failure to maintain written job descriptions and job titles for each position and the name of the employee filling the position; failure to maintain both introductory and continuing training; failure to describe arrangements with local emergency responders; failure to submit a contingency plan and reference guide to local emergency responders; failure to record the time inspections were conducted; as well as similar failures to handle pharmaceutical waste.

The Environmental Protection Agency defines medical waste as “healthcare waste that may be contaminated by blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials.”

A report prepared for this week’s meeting of the DHEC board indicates the violations had been corrected prior to health inspectors issuing an order to the hospital, and that Lexington Medical Center has now paid the fine.