Medical Waste Disposal (Biohazardous and Sharps Wastes)

Who Regulates Medical Waste? Federal EPA (40 CFR part 60.51c) DOT (49 CFR Part 173.134) OSHA (29 CFR Part 1920.1030b) USPS (39 CFR 111.1) State CA Health and Safety Code Local SD Code of Regulatory Ordinance

Medical Waste …biohazardous waste and/or sharps waste that is produced or generated as a result of diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals; research pertaining thereto; production or testing of biologicals or removal of regulated waste from a trauma scene.

Forms of Medical Waste Solid Labware (flasks, tubes, plates, bottle, vials) Pipettes (could also be sharps) Lab waste (stocks, specimens, cultures, swabs, vaccines) Gloves, apparel, wipes Liquid Aspirates, culture fluids, rinses, washes Sera, body fluids Sharps Anything with a point or edge capable of piercing or cutting

Medical Waste Does Not Include: Waste generated in food processing Urine, feces, saliva, sputum, nasal secretions, sweat, tears, or vomitus, unless it contains fluid blood Medical solid wastes i.e., paper towels or empty specimen containers that are not biohazardous, bandages/dressings containing dried blood Hazardous waste, radioactive waste, household waste Waste generated on agricultural or livestock practices on a farm or ranch

Biohazardous Waste Animal parts, tissues, fluids, or carcasses Wastes containing recognizable fluid blood or blood products, containers with fluid blood, blood from animals Wastes contaminated or containing chemotherapeutic agents Laboratory Wastes Human or animal specimen cultures Cultures and stocks of infectious agents Wastes from production of biologicals, live and attenuated vaccines, culture dishes and devices Pharmaceuticals Human surgery specimens or tissues, including those fixed in fixatives

Sharps Waste … means any device having acute rigid corners, edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing. Needles, needles with syringes, contaminated syringes, blades, needles with attached tubing Broken glass items i.e., Pasteur pipettes, blood vials contaminated with biohazardous waste

“Mixed Waste Hierarchy” … means mixtures of medical and nonmedical waste. Mixed waste is medical waste, except for all of the following: “Mixed Waste Hierarchy”

Biohazard Bag …means a disposable red bag that is impervious to moisture and has a strength sufficient to preclude ripping, tearing, or bursting under normal conditions of usage and handling of the waste-filled bag.

Containment and Storage Biohazardous Waste Must be segregated from other types of wastes Must be contained in “biohazard bags” Bags must be red. Bags must be labeled either with the word “Biohazardous” or with the biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard”. Bags must also be labeled with the generator’s name, address and phone number. Bags must be securely tied to prevent leakage or expulsion of contents. Bags must be placed in a rigid container for storage, handling and transport.

Containers Containers shall be leak resistant, have tight-fitting covers, kept clean and in good repair. Containers may be of any color and shall be labeled with the word “Biohazardous” or with the biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard” on the lid and on the sides so as to be visible on any lateral direction. Reusable containers shall be washed and decontaminated unless protected from contamination by disposable liners or bags. Reusable containers shall be washed to remove visible soil and decontaminated by: Exposure to hot water (180°F) for 15 secs. Exposure to the following sanitizer for 3 mins. Hypochlorite soln. (500 ppm avail. Chlorine) Phenolic soln. (500 ppm active agent) Iodoform soln. (100 ppm avail. Iodine) Quaternary ammonium soln. (400 ppm active agent)

Sharps Container …means a rigid puncture resistant container that, when sealed, is leak resistant and cannot be reopened without great difficulty.

Containment and Storage Sharps Waste Must be segregated from other types of wastes. Must be contained in “sharps container”. Tightly close or tape closed the lid of a full sharps container ready for disposal. Store sharps container ready for disposal for not more than 7 days. Label sharps container with the word “Sharps Waste” or the biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard”. Must also be labeled with the generator’s name, address and phone number that is legible and easily visible on the outside of the container.

Disposal Take biohazard bag and sharps container to designated Accumulation Sites: Life Science, Room 14 Student Health Service, outside shed Generators at other locations may call EHS at (619) 594-6778 for biohazard waste pick-ups A biowaste vendor will collect biohazard bag and sharps container for disposal on a weekly basis from Life Science and Student Health Services. Biohazardous and sharps wastes will be autoclaved while animal carcasses will be incinerated.

Solid Medical Waste Collection Must be rigid, puncture-proof, leak-proof Not acceptable in CA Labels have to be affixed on all 4 sides of the container.

Sharps Waste Collection Sharps containers <7 gal. should not be on the floor. Lids have to be difficult to open. Labels have to be affixed on all 4 sides of the container.

What’s Wrong with these Pictures? Left: Sharps sticking out of Sharps Waste container. Right: Sharps Waste container past full line. No generator label.

What’s Wrong with these Pictures? Left: Bottle not labeled. Right: Cardboard box is not allowed for liquid waste. No labels. No lid.

What’s Wrong with these Pictures? Left and Right: Cardboard box is not an appropriate Sharps Waste container. No labels. No lids.

What’s Wrong with these Pictures? Left: Red bag should be inside the secondary container. Cardboard box is not an acceptable secondary container. Right: Bag must be red. Secondary container does not have to be red. No biohazard label. Red bag on floor ready for disposal must be transported to the accumulation site immediately.

What’s Wrong with these Pictures? Left: Do not fill red bags completely. Replace more often. Right: No biohazard label. Red bag on floor ready for disposal must be transported to the accumulation site immediately.

What’s Wrong with these Pictures? Left: Do not deface container. Incorrect label placed on container (need generator label). Right: Red bag must be transported in a secure secondary container to the accumulation site. Red bag must have biohazard label and generator label.

What’s Wrong with these Pictures? Left: Proper Sharps Waste container not used. No generator label. Right: Generator label should be on the outside of the red bag. Secondary container needs biohazard label on all visible sides including top. Use appropriately sized red bag for secondary container.

What’s Wrong with these Pictures? Left: Incorrect label placed on container (need generator label). Keep lid closed when not in use. Right: No lid. Use appropriately sized red bag for secondary container. Secondary container needs biohazard label on all visible sides including top.