Environmental Concerns for Medical Research Facilities
From hospital laboratories to corporate medical facilities, the potential environmental impact created by medical research can be considerable. Improper storage, handling, transportation, and disposal at these facilities may create costly and dangerous pollution conditions. Specific exposures could include:
- Storage of chemical reagents and medicines on site.
- Refrigerants/ammonia that may be used for cold storage of medicines and chemicals.
- Potential biomedical waste that would be generated from unused materials.
- Over the road spills of biomedical waste which could damage nearby property and wildlife.
- Non-Owned Disposal Sites; biomedical waste emanating from a non-owned waste facility.
- Other facility-related exposures.
Site Pollution Liability for Medical Research Facilities
The environmental insurance policy that is most applicable to addressing medical research facility concerns is a Premises Pollution Liability policy. It is designed to cover claims arising from pollution releases at, on, or emanating from a specific scheduled location. Coverage may address unknown, historical environmental liabilities as well as unknown, future environmental liabilities.
Read more about Site Pollution Liability.
Learn about environmental insurance for medical transport & waste disposal businesses.
News Stories Involving Medical Research Facilities
A medical center with attached laboratory caught fire, emitting hazardous vapors into the air and hazardous liquids into the soil and groundwater. The air vapors and groundwater migrated to a number of nearby third-party properties. A class action lawsuit was filed by the neighboring community for property damage and bodily injury. In addition to these third party claims, the plant’s owner incurred extensive costs to cleanup surrounding properties as well as the site itself.
Kaiser Agrees to $49M Settlement, Admits Illegal Disposal of Medical Waste, Patient Record
The California Attorney General announced a settlement with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals resolving allegations that the healthcare provider unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste, medical waste, and protected health information at Kaiser facilities statewide. As part of the settlement, Kaiser will be liable for a total of $49 million and be required to take “significant steps to prevent future unlawful disposals.”
Two dozen violations and $40,000 later, company still pumping pollutants into vulnerable communities
A multinational company has again been cited by the state for Clean Air Act violations related to its incineration of medical, hospital, and infectious waste. The facility has amassed at least two dozen air quality violations over the past decade, totaling nearly $40,000 in civil penalties.
San Joaquin County District Attorney files environmental hazard case against Quest Diagnostics
A well-known medical testing laboratory mishandled patient data, medical waste, and hazardous materials, according to a recent court filing by San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office. Quest Diagnostics could be forced to pay nearly $5 million in penalties, costs, and supplemental environmental projects. The company would also be required to “make significant changes to its operations and practices at its California facilities,” according to prosecutors.
Medical device company discloses hundreds of ethylene oxide lawsuits over device sterilization plant
The medical device company — which provides contract sterilization for medical device manufacturers through its Applied Sterilization Technologies (AST) unit and makes sterile products for hospitals — disclosed the pending litigation last week.
South Baltimore’s medical waste incinerator pays $1.75M fine to settle AG investigation
The operator of South Baltimore’s medical waste incinerator has agreed to pay a $1.75 million fine following an investigation by the Maryland attorney general that revealed the plant’s former owner routinely violated state environmental laws by knowingly disposing of partially burned and improperly treated biohazardous materials.
Type: Blog
Topic: Facilities, Medical