Biomedical Waste Disposal Assistant

About the role

Reporting to the Environmental Affairs Operations Manager at the Office of Environmental Health & Safety, assist the biomedical waste disposal program.

Responsibilities

• Bring carts of biomedical waste from various collection points throughout the Medical School to the autoclave/shredder operation.
• Pack, label, and transport pathological or other biomedical waste by vehicle or cart to collection sheds.
• Deliver biomedical waste supplies and containers to staging areas.
• Clean up minor biomedical waste spills.
• Document daily removal of biomedical waste including transportation log books.
• Provide backup operation of the autoclave/shredder unit.
• Provide specialized information and training to faculty, staff and vendor employees regarding the compliant collection and storage of biomedical waste.

Requirements

• Ability to recognize biohazard symbols and properly package and label waste for treatment and disposal.
• Ability to identify materials that are potentially infectious.
• Ability to prepare biomedical waste for transportation in compliance with US Department of Transportation federal regulations and State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection biomedical waste statute.
• Ability to work well with others. Responsive to conflicting demands and deadlines. Good organizational skills.
• Maintain all required licenses, certifications, and trainings.
• Ability to obtain a CT commercial driver's license with HAZMAT Endorsement in the first 90 days of employment and maintain the endorsement.

Preferred Skills And Abilities

• Experience in packaging and handling biomedical waste, with at least 1 year of experience in a laboratory setting or working with hazardous materials.
• Experience working in the field of regulated waste management.
• Bachelor's degree in a science-related field and an interest in environmental health and safety work.
• Experience in packaging and handling biomedical waste.

Physical Requirements

• Pass required DOT physical examinations and drug/alcohol screenings to include pre-employment and continuing through your employment at Yale.
• Ability to pass DOT required background check.
• Lifts up to 50 lbs and move up to 500 lbs of waste material using rolling carts or drum carts.
• Pushes large wheeled carts throughout hallways, and in and out of elevators and tight spaces.
• Lifts and moves supplies from warehouse to customer locations negotiating on and off loading docks, using truck lift gate and cart.
• Periodically performs short duration physical exertions, including light-medium weight lifting, pushing, stair or ladder climbing, etc., in support of a safety investigation, area or operations survey, emergency response or environmental sampling.
• Removes large containers up to 200 pounds each from horizontal chest freezers using lift arm equipment.
• Wears and uses personal protective equipment for hazardous materials handling and spill clean-up including respirators, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and fully encapsulating protective suit.
• Wears and uses self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Works in a variety of physical environments including weather extremes, potential confined spaces, elevated locations, etc.