Medical Waste Disposal(Biohazardous and Sharps Wastes)

Who Regulates Medical Waste?Who Regulates Medical Waste?

Federal Federal EPA (40 CFR part 60.51c) EPA (40 CFR part 60.51c) DOT (49 CFR Part 173.134) DOT (49 CFR Part 173.134) OSHA (29 CFR Part 1920.1030b) OSHA (29 CFR Part 1920.1030b) USPS (39 CFR 111.1) USPS (39 CFR 111.1)

State CA Health and Safety Code State CA Health and Safety Code Local SD Code of Regulatory Ordinance Local SD Code of Regulatory Ordinance

Medical WasteMedical Waste

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

Forms of Medical WasteForms of Medical Waste Solid Solid

Labware (flasks, tubes, plates, bottle, vials) Labware (flasks, tubes, plates, bottle, vials) Pipettes (could also be sharps) Pipettes (could also be sharps) Lab waste (stocks, specimens, cultures, swabs, Lab waste (stocks, specimens, cultures, swabs,

vaccines) vaccines) Gloves, apparel, wipes Gloves, apparel, wipes

Liquid Liquid Aspirates, culture fluids, rinses, washes Aspirates, culture fluids, rinses, washes Sera, body fluids Sera, body fluids

Sharps Sharps Anything with a point or edge capable of Anything with a point or edge capable of

piercing or cuttingpiercing or cutting

Medical Waste Does Not Include:Medical Waste Does Not Include:

Waste generated in food processing Waste generated in food processing Urine, feces, saliva, sputum, nasal secretions, Urine, feces, saliva, sputum, nasal secretions,

sweat, tears, or vomitus, unless it contains fluid sweat, tears, or vomitus, unless it contains fluid blood blood

Medical solid wastes i.e., paper towels or empty Medical solid wastes i.e., paper towels or empty specimen containers that are not biohazardous, specimen containers that are not biohazardous, bandages/dressings containing dried blood bandages/dressings containing dried blood

Hazardous waste, radioactive waste, household Hazardous waste, radioactive waste, household waste waste

Waste generated on agricultural or livestock Waste generated on agricultural or livestock practices on a farm or ranchpractices on a farm or ranch

Biohazardous WasteBiohazardous Waste Laboratory Wastes Laboratory Wastes

Human or animal Human or animal specimen cultures specimen cultures

Cultures and stocks of Cultures and stocks of infectious agents infectious agents

Wastes from production of Wastes from production of biologicals, live and biologicals, live and attenuated vaccines, attenuated vaccines, culture dishes and devices culture dishes and devices

Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Human surgery specimens or Human surgery specimens or

tissues, including those fixed tissues, including those fixed in fixatives in fixatives

Animal parts, tissues, Animal parts, tissues, fluids, or carcasses fluids, or carcasses

Wastes containing Wastes containing recognizable fluid blood recognizable fluid blood or blood products, or blood products, containers with fluid containers with fluid blood, blood from animals blood, blood from animals

Wastes contaminated or Wastes contaminated or containing containing chemotherapeutic agents chemotherapeutic agents

Sharps WasteSharps Waste

… … means any device having acute rigid corners, means any device having acute rigid corners, edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing. piercing.

Needles, needles with syringes, contaminated Needles, needles with syringes, contaminated syringes, blades, needles with attached tubing syringes, blades, needles with attached tubing

Broken glass items i.e., Pasteur pipettes, blood Broken glass items i.e., Pasteur pipettes, blood vials contaminated with biohazardous waste vials contaminated with biohazardous waste

Mixed WasteMixed Waste

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

““Mixed Waste Hierarchy”Mixed Waste Hierarchy”

Biohazard BagBiohazard Bag

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

Containment and StorageBiohazardous WasteBiohazardous Waste Must be segregated from other types of wastes Must be segregated from other types of wastes Must be contained in “biohazard bags” Must be contained in “biohazard bags”

Bags must be red.Bags must be red. Bags must be labeled either with the word Bags must be labeled either with the word

“Biohazardous” or with the biohazard symbol “Biohazardous” or with the biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard”. and the word “Biohazard”.

Bags must also be labeled with the generator’s Bags must also be labeled with the generator’s name, address and phone number. name, address and phone number.

Bags must be securely tied to prevent leakage Bags must be securely tied to prevent leakage or expulsion of contents.or expulsion of contents.

Bags must be placed in a rigid container for Bags must be placed in a rigid container for storage, handling and transport. storage, handling and transport.

ContainersContainers Containers shall be leak resistant, have tight-fitting Containers shall be leak resistant, have tight-fitting

covers, kept clean and in good repair. covers, kept clean and in good repair. Containers may be of any color and shall be labeled Containers may be of any color and shall be labeled

with the word “Biohazardous” or with the biohazard with the word “Biohazardous” or with the biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard” on the lid and on the symbol and the word “Biohazard” on the lid and on the sides so as to be visible on any lateral direction.sides so as to be visible on any lateral direction.

Reusable containers shall be washed and decontaminated Reusable containers shall be washed and decontaminated unless protected from contamination by disposable liners unless protected from contamination by disposable liners or bags. or bags.

Reusable containers shall be washed to remove visible soil Reusable containers shall be washed to remove visible soil and decontaminated by: and decontaminated by: Exposure to hot water (180°F) for 15 secs. Exposure to hot water (180°F) for 15 secs. Exposure to the following sanitizer for 3 mins. Exposure to the following sanitizer for 3 mins.

Hypochlorite soln. (500 ppm avail. Chlorine) Hypochlorite soln. (500 ppm avail. Chlorine) Phenolic soln. (500 ppm active agent) Phenolic soln. (500 ppm active agent) Iodoform soln. (100 ppm avail. Iodine) Iodoform soln. (100 ppm avail. Iodine) Quaternary ammonium soln. (400 ppm active agent) Quaternary ammonium soln. (400 ppm active agent)

Sharps ContainerSharps Container

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

Containment and StorageContainment and StorageSharps WasteSharps Waste Must be segregated from other types of wastes. Must be segregated from other types of wastes. Must be contained in “sharps container”. Must be contained in “sharps container”. Tightly close or tape closed the lid of a full sharps Tightly close or tape closed the lid of a full sharps

container ready for disposal. container ready for disposal. Store sharps container ready for disposal for not Store sharps container ready for disposal for not

more than 7 days. more than 7 days. Label sharps container with the word “Sharps Label sharps container with the word “Sharps

Waste” or the biohazard symbol and the word Waste” or the biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard”. “Biohazard”.

Must also be labeled with the generator’s name, Must also be labeled with the generator’s name, address and phone number that is legible and address and phone number that is legible and easily visible on the outside of the container.easily visible on the outside of the container.

DisposalDisposal Take biohazard bag and sharps container to Take biohazard bag and sharps container to

designated Accumulation Sites: designated Accumulation Sites: Life Science, Room 14 Life Science, Room 14 Student Health Service, outside shed Student Health Service, outside shed Generators at other locations may call EHS at Generators at other locations may call EHS at

(619) 594-6778 for biohazard waste pick-ups (619) 594-6778 for biohazard waste pick-ups A biowaste vendor will collect biohazard bag and A biowaste vendor will collect biohazard bag and

sharps container for disposal on a weekly basis sharps container for disposal on a weekly basis from Life Science and Student Health Services. from Life Science and Student Health Services.

Biohazardous and sharps wastes will be Biohazardous and sharps wastes will be autoclaved while animal carcasses will be autoclaved while animal carcasses will be incinerated.incinerated.

Solid Medical Waste CollectionNot acceptable in CAMust be rigid, puncture-proof, leak-proof

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.