DOVER, DELAWARE (9/28/2015) Two Delaware hospitals are facing fines for violation of hazardous waste laws, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.
Bayhealth Kent General Hospital in Dover and St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington failed to properly dispose of pharmaceuticals, according to DNREC.
David Small, DNREC secretary, ordered Bayhealth to pay a penalty of $73,509 and $11,026 in costs, and St. Francis to pay a penalty of $13,021 and $1,953 in costs.
In an inspection July 31, 2014, DNREC identified 22 violations of state regulations governing hazardous waste, including failing to make determination on pharmaceutical wastes; improperly disposing of pharmaceutical wastes; failure to conduct waste handling and disposal training; and failure to conduct required weekly inspections.
An assessment also was conducted in March 2014 at Bayhealth Milford Memorial Hospital,
“After similar violations to what was found at Kent General were identified, DNREC provided Bayhealth with extensive assistance for returning to compliance – including the department’s conducting training event at Bayhealth’s request for hospital employees that covered proper hazardous waste management for healthcare professionals,” the department said in a news release.
DNREC said Kent General has since come into compliance with state laws and regulations.
On May 13, 2014, DNREC identified 10 violations of hazardous waste regulations at St. Francis, including failing to make a hazardous waste determination on pharmaceutical wastes and aerosol cans; improperly disposing of pharmaceutical wastes; failure to conduct training, failure to conduct weekly inspections; and failure to develop and maintain a contingency plan.
DNREC said St. Francis has since come into compliance.
The hospitals have 30 days to request a hearing to appeal the fines.
St. Francis Hospital is a 395-bed health care facility and is part of St. Francis Healthcare, which operates numerous facilities throughout New Castle County.
Bayhealth operates the two hospitals as well as other health care facilities in central and southern Delaware.