What must a health care facility do if it does not receive a signed shipping document within 60 days?

• A. Notify the EPA.
• B. Notify the FDA.
• C. Notify the local health department.
• D. Ignore the issue until the next shipment.

Answer: (A)

Not receiving a signed shipping document within 60 days signals that the hazardous waste shipment paperwork hasn’t completed as required. A manifest is the official record showing that the waste left the generator, was handled by the transporter, and was received by the designated facility. When that signed copy isn’t returned in the allotted time, the facility must escalate to the Environmental Protection Agency. This EPA notification ensures regulators can track the missing paperwork, verify proper waste handling, and maintain compliance with RCRA requirements. The FDA regulates medicines and devices, not hazardous-waste manifests, and a local health department isn’t the appropriate regulator for this specific paperwork. Ignoring the issue would leave records incomplete and could lead to penalties.