I am curious what other labs do, because our system isn't working. I am a Canadian MLT/histo tech. We generate up to 80L of hazardous waste per day. We load it up on a big steel cart that weighs maybe 200lb empty or 300-400lb full that stays in the processor room. Its about 5ft long. Then we navigate it through an obsticle course of very tight rooms and hallways to get to the elevator, take it down 2 floors, and into a small room full of drums we dump it in. Then we load it up with fresh fluids and take it back up.
We used to have a very strong autopsy attendant who did this. He was about 7ft tall and 300lb. After he left, they decided MLAs would do it. They refused. Then they decided techs would do it. We're struggling. I had a workplace back injury when the cart got stuck in a doorway. We made some improvements since then. 8 mo. later we finally got a cart where all 4 wheels pivot so we can get it around the obsticles without getting stuck, and a doorstop for the heavy fireproof doors. It seems like a waste of public health dollars to pay scientists $50/hr to do manual labor.
So, I am wondering if the Chem dump sucks everywhere, or just here. Do you have any advice?
Who does the dump at your lab?
How far do you have to go with the fluids?
What is your cart like?