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Waste Handling: Difference between revisions
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#Infectious sharps, medical sharps, broken contaminated glass and pipettes contaminated with infectious material must be disposed of in leak-proof, rigid, puncture-resistant and break-resistant containers. Sharps containers must be approved by Safety Operations and/or the UNMC Safety Office. These containers must be sealed shut when they are 3/4 full and placed with the biohazard waste for pick up and disposal. Sharps containers should be bagged and sealed as outlined above if they contain liquids in the form of blood, body fluids or medications. Disposable sharps containers four (4) gallons or smaller are sealed closed and placed in the biohazard waste tub for disposal. Larger disposable sharps containers which will not fit into biohazard tubs for shipping must be in a shippable container, approved by DOT for shipment of sharps with no other packaging required. Reusable sharps containers regardless of size are sealed closed and then transported by the vendor to a facility which handles emptying and disinfecting the containers as well as decontamination of the sharps for disposal. | #Infectious sharps, medical sharps, broken contaminated glass and pipettes contaminated with infectious material must be disposed of in leak-proof, rigid, puncture-resistant and break-resistant containers. Sharps containers must be approved by Safety Operations and/or the UNMC Safety Office. These containers must be sealed shut when they are 3/4 full and placed with the biohazard waste for pick up and disposal. Sharps containers should be bagged and sealed as outlined above if they contain liquids in the form of blood, body fluids or medications. Disposable sharps containers four (4) gallons or smaller are sealed closed and placed in the biohazard waste tub for disposal. Larger disposable sharps containers which will not fit into biohazard tubs for shipping must be in a shippable container, approved by DOT for shipment of sharps with no other packaging required. Reusable sharps containers regardless of size are sealed closed and then transported by the vendor to a facility which handles emptying and disinfecting the containers as well as decontamination of the sharps for disposal. | ||
#The use of re-usable sharps containers is acceptable with the approval of the UNMC Safety Office (UNMC). Containers will be handled and processed in a manner consistent with acceptable regulatory guidelines. | #The use of re-usable sharps containers is acceptable with the approval of the UNMC Safety Office (UNMC). Containers will be handled and processed in a manner consistent with acceptable regulatory guidelines. | ||
#Non-EPA regulated chemotherapy waste (See [ | #Non-EPA regulated chemotherapy waste (See [https://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/lab-safety/biohazard-waste/index.html Biohazardous Waste Information] for a list of EPA regulated chemotherapy agents), pathological or other waste requiring incineration (human or animal remains or excised tissue) are marked clearly with the "incineration only" stickers provided by the biohazard waste contractor. The stickers are available from the biohazard waste contractor. Information on obtaining the incineration stickers can be obtained from Environmental Services at 402-559-4073. | ||
#Special Circumstances in Handling Biohazard Waste | #Special Circumstances in Handling Biohazard Waste | ||
#*Placentas for disposal will be labeled for incineration. | #*Placentas for disposal will be labeled for incineration. | ||
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#*Biosafety-Level 3 containment laboratories shall have all waste generated in such labs either decontaminated prior to removal from the lab or wrapped and placed into a sealed container prior to removal from lab for decontamination on site. | #*Biosafety-Level 3 containment laboratories shall have all waste generated in such labs either decontaminated prior to removal from the lab or wrapped and placed into a sealed container prior to removal from lab for decontamination on site. | ||
#*Any materials/substances coming out of a laboratory with concentrated infectious agents, such as an HIV/HBV production facility, must be decontaminated on site before leaving the facility. | #*Any materials/substances coming out of a laboratory with concentrated infectious agents, such as an HIV/HBV production facility, must be decontaminated on site before leaving the facility. | ||
#*Biocontainment unit biohazard waste will be handled in accordance with acceptable guidelines. Known or suspected Risk Group 4 waste ([ | #*Biocontainment unit biohazard waste will be handled in accordance with acceptable guidelines. Known or suspected Risk Group 4 waste ([https://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/lab-safety/biohazard-waste/index.html Biohazardous Waste Information]) is autoclaved on site before leaving the facility. | ||
#Only trained and certified individuals shall sign Regulated Medical Waste (biohazardous) transport shipping papers. These individuals are signing for the organization and as such are not held financially responsible for any penalties or fines that may be imposed by regulatory agencies (i.e., OSHA, DOT, etc) so long as they are acting in a reasonable manner, consistent with their training and UNMC policy. | #Only trained and certified individuals shall sign Regulated Medical Waste (biohazardous) transport shipping papers. These individuals are signing for the organization and as such are not held financially responsible for any penalties or fines that may be imposed by regulatory agencies (i.e., OSHA, DOT, etc) so long as they are acting in a reasonable manner, consistent with their training and UNMC policy. | ||
==Chemical and Hazardous Waste== | ==Chemical and Hazardous Waste== | ||
Chemical and Hazardous Waste is any chemical material for disposal and includes both hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals. Chemicals and chemical materials like lead acid batteries and aerosol cans are disposed of in accordance with the Chemical Safety Manual and are removed from the campus by a licensed contractor. Contact the UNMC Environmental Health & Safety Department at | Chemical and Hazardous Waste is any chemical material for disposal and includes both hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals. Chemicals and chemical materials like lead acid batteries and aerosol cans are disposed of in accordance with the Chemical Safety Manual and are removed from the campus by a licensed contractor. Contact the UNMC Environmental Health & Safety Department at 402-559-6356 for disposal guidelines. | ||
==Radioactive Waste== | ==Radioactive Waste== | ||
Radioactive waste is any material with detectable radioactivity above background levels. These materials are handled in accordance with Radioactive Materials and Waste policies and procedures. Contact the UNMC Radiation Safety Office at | Radioactive waste is any material with detectable radioactivity above background levels. These materials are handled in accordance with Radioactive Materials and Waste policies and procedures. Contact the UNMC Radiation Safety Office at 402-559-6356 for disposal guidelines. | ||
==Recyclable Waste== | ==Recyclable Waste== | ||
#Recyclable waste includes mixed paper, cardboard, plastic, tin, scrap metal, aluminum. and blue wrap. Questions concerning recycling can be addressed by calling | #Recyclable waste includes mixed paper, cardboard, plastic, tin, scrap metal, aluminum. and blue wrap. Questions concerning recycling can be addressed by calling 402-559-4100. | ||
#Recyclable material containing confidential information is safeguarded from the time of generation through destruction. For guidelines on the proper destruction of confidential materials in the hospital, see IM.14, and UNMC Policy No. 6056, [http://wiki.unmc.edu/index.php?title=Confidential_Information Retention and Destruction/Disposal of Private and Confidential Information]. All paper waste, including medical and personal information is considered confidential waste. | #Recyclable material containing confidential information is safeguarded from the time of generation through destruction. For guidelines on the proper destruction of confidential materials in the hospital, see IM.14, and UNMC Policy No. 6056, [http://wiki.unmc.edu/index.php?title=Confidential_Information Retention and Destruction/Disposal of Private and Confidential Information]. All paper waste, including medical and personal information is considered confidential waste. | ||
#The recycling program at UNMC must comply with the federal requirement, in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), that all personal health information (PHI) be protected from the time it is created to the time it is destroyed. | #The recycling program at UNMC must comply with the federal requirement, in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), that all personal health information (PHI) be protected from the time it is created to the time it is destroyed. | ||
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General waste is anything which does not fit into other waste categories and is transported and disposed via a contracted service using normal waste handling methods. | General waste is anything which does not fit into other waste categories and is transported and disposed via a contracted service using normal waste handling methods. | ||
#Broken uncontaminated glass is placed in rigid containers and labeled as to the contents. | #Broken uncontaminated glass is placed in rigid containers and labeled as to the contents. | ||
#Compressed gas cylinders are returned to the vendor when empty. Contact UNMC Safety at | #Compressed gas cylinders are returned to the vendor when empty. Contact UNMC Safety at 402-559-7315 to arrange disposal of single use disposable cylinders. | ||
#Asbestos must be disposed in accordance with all applicable state, federal and local guidelines. Contact Facilities Management to arrange for disposal of items containing asbestos. A Construction Risk Assessment shall be required for asbestos removal in hospital areas. | #Asbestos must be disposed in accordance with all applicable state, federal and local guidelines. Contact Facilities Management to arrange for disposal of items containing asbestos. A Construction Risk Assessment shall be required for asbestos removal in hospital areas. | ||
#General Waste Disposal | #General Waste Disposal | ||
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#*General trash compactors are emptied three times per week. Other dumpsters on campus are collected on a schedule based on the location and container size. | #*General trash compactors are emptied three times per week. Other dumpsters on campus are collected on a schedule based on the location and container size. | ||
==Universal Waste== | ==Universal Waste== | ||
Universal wastes are any of the following hazardous wastes subject to the State of Nebraska universal waste requirements. Questions concerning disposal of universal waste can be addressed by calling | Universal wastes are any of the following hazardous wastes subject to the State of Nebraska universal waste requirements. Questions concerning disposal of universal waste can be addressed by calling 402-559-6356. | ||
#Batteries - Nickel cadmium (rechargeable), button (calculator, watch) or lithium batteries | #Batteries - Nickel cadmium (rechargeable), button (calculator, watch) or lithium batteries | ||
#Mercury containing lamps - light emitting bulbs containing mercury, including fluorescent, high pressure sodium, mercury vapor and metal halide lamps | #Mercury containing lamps - light emitting bulbs containing mercury, including fluorescent, high pressure sodium, mercury vapor and metal halide lamps | ||
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==Additional Information== | ==Additional Information== | ||
*Contact [mailto:jhauser@unmc.edu UNMC Safety] | *Contact [mailto:jhauser@unmc.edu UNMC Safety] | ||
*Contact Environmental Health & Safety Department at | *Contact Environmental Health & Safety Department at 402-559-6356 | ||
*UNMC Policy No. 2004, [[Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure]] | *UNMC Policy No. 2004, [[Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure]] | ||
*UNMC Policy No. 6056, [http://wiki.unmc.edu/index.php?title=Confidential_Information Retention and Destruction/Disposal of Private and Confidential Information] | *UNMC Policy No. 6056, [http://wiki.unmc.edu/index.php?title=Confidential_Information Retention and Destruction/Disposal of Private and Confidential Information] | ||
*UNMC Policy No. 2005, [ | *UNMC Policy No. 2005, [https://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/lab-safety/biohazard-waste/index.html Biohazardous Waste Information] | ||
*The Nebraska Medical Center Policies and Procedures, IC13, Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan<br /> | *The Nebraska Medical Center Policies and Procedures, IC13, Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan<br /> | ||
This policy maintained by [mailto:dpanowic@unmc.edu dkp]. | This policy maintained by [mailto:dpanowic@unmc.edu dkp]. | ||