Greetings, safety officers and facility managers. Here is this week's Safety Connection, brought to you by Briefings on Hospital Safety, the 12-page monthly newsletter that advises hospital environment of care and safety committees on how to meet the challenges of effective safety management.

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Prisoner takes hostages at a hospital and beyond

A wild crime spree all started at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, OH, on Monday.

A federal prisoner who had arrived at the hospital for treatment allegedly took two correctional guards and two nurses hostage before escaping the hospital alone wearing one of the guard's uniforms, reported The Vindicator newspaper of Youngstown.

From there, the suspect allegedly

• carjacked a man outside the hospital
• robbed two banks in central Ohio
• invaded a home in Hilliard, OH, and held two women there hostage

The suspect eventually surrendered later that afternoon after negotiating with police.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a revised definition of solid waste.

In a highlight, the proposal would provide for the recycling of such materials as solvents, metals, and certain other chemicals, according to the EPA. The revision was published in the March 26 Federal Register.

The EPA will take comments on the proposal through May 25.

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To read the answer, click here.

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Last week a TV reporter was arrested on attempted kidnapping charges after she snooped around hospital maternity wards, but coverage of the incident seemed to miss a big point:

To read the full tip, click here.

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How to Handle Mandatory Reporting of HAIs and Infection Rates
States are requiring it. Patients are demanding it. Sooner or later, you’ll have to put together a plan for mandatory reporting of healthcare-associated infections. Let us help. Join HCPro on April 17 for this live 90-minute audioconference where our infection control experts will give you the latest news, outline the pros and cons of a mandatory system, and help you assemble the resources to get you through—so that you’ll be ready when surveyors, inspectors and other officials walk through your doors.

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