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Waste Handling: Difference between revisions
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Biohazard waste, except for sharps, shall be contained in disposable plastic bags or containers that are tear-resistant, leak-proof, and secured to prevent leakage or expulsion of solid or liquid waste during storage, handling or transport. | Biohazard waste, except for sharps, shall be contained in disposable plastic bags or containers that are tear-resistant, leak-proof, and secured to prevent leakage or expulsion of solid or liquid waste during storage, handling or transport. | ||
#Biohazard waste will be transported in covered containers designated for biohazardous waste. | #Biohazard waste will be transported in covered containers designated for biohazardous waste. | ||
#Bags will meet current tear and impact resistance requirements, will conform to current maximum size and weight restrictions, and will be labeled as biohazardous (reference requirements in 49 CFR 173.134, 49 CFR 173.197, 49 CFR 173.24, 49 CFR 173.24a). | #Bags will meet current tear and impact resistance requirements, will conform to current maximum size and weight restrictions, and will be labeled as biohazardous (reference requirements in 49 CFR 173.134, 49 CFR 173.197, 49 CFR 173.24, 49 CFR 173.24a). The top of the inner bag must be closed by twisting it closed and tying in a single knot. It is preferred that the infectious waste bags be placed directly into rigid reusable containers supplied by the waste contractor at the site of origin. | ||
#Prior to transport off campus, all biohazardous waste will be placed in an approved leak-proof container such as disposable or reusable pails, disposable or reusable sharps containers, cartons, boxes, drums, or portable bins. | #Prior to transport off campus, all biohazardous waste will be placed in an approved leak-proof container such as disposable or reusable pails, disposable or reusable sharps containers, cartons, boxes, drums, or portable bins. These containers will be clearly marked and labeled in accordance with DOT and OSHA regulatory requirements. All containers will be closed and completely sealed. See [http://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/biohazardous-waste/2005-waste-handling-attachments-2014.pdf Attachment II] for details on meeting DOT and OSHA requirements. | ||
#Suction canisters containing blood or other body fluids must be carefully emptied or contents may be sealed and placed in rigid reusable biohazardous waste containers with absorbent material. | #Suction canisters containing blood or other body fluids must be carefully emptied or contents may be sealed and placed in rigid reusable biohazardous waste containers with absorbent material. Personnel must wear appropriate protective equipment to minimize exposure to potential pathogens if contents are emptied. The contents may be solidified and discarded using approved methods if emptying the contents is not practical. The empty suction canisters must be handled and discarded as biohazard waste. | ||
#Equipment and linen contaminated with biohazard material or biological agents must be handled and decontaminated in accordance with the guidelines established in the hospital Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan (See The Nebraska Medical Center Policies and Procedures, IC13, Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan; UNMC Policy No. 2004, [[Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure]]). Equipment and linen are not thrown away as a biohazard. Items are cleaned first and personnel will refer questions to managers or leads to determine if an item must be discarded due to contamination. | #Equipment and linen contaminated with biohazard material or biological agents must be handled and decontaminated in accordance with the guidelines established in the hospital Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan (See The Nebraska Medical Center Policies and Procedures, IC13, Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan; UNMC Policy No. 2004, [[Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure]]). Equipment and linen are not thrown away as a biohazard. Items are cleaned first and personnel will refer questions to managers or leads to determine if an item must be discarded due to contamination. | ||
#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 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 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 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 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 Safety Operations (Hospital) or UNMC Safety Office (UNMC). | #The use of re-usable sharps containers is acceptable with the approval of Safety Operations (Hospital) or UNMC Safety Office (UNMC). Containers will be handled and processed in a manner consistent with acceptable regulatory guidelines. Areas looking for help with the regularly scheduled pick-ups in their area should contact the Support Operations Manager at ext. 2-3153. If a re-usable sharps container is full and cannot wait until the next scheduled rounds for pick-up, contact Environmental Services at 402-888-3877 (UT) or 402-888-3876 (CT). | ||
#Non-EPA regulated chemotherapy waste (See [http://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/biohazardous-waste/2005-waste-handling-attachments-2014.pdf Attachment 2] 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 ext. 9-4073. | #Non-EPA regulated chemotherapy waste (See [http://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/biohazardous-waste/2005-waste-handling-attachments-2014.pdf Attachment 2] 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 ext. 9-4073. | ||
#Special Circumstances in Handling Biohazard Waste | #Special Circumstances in Handling Biohazard Waste | ||
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#Extracted teeth stored at the College of Dentistry for use by students in pre-clinic laboratory are stored in dilute hypochlorite solution (generally a 1:10 dilution). This leaches the mercury from the restorations and the solution is picked up by UNL Environmental Health and Safety when the teeth are disposed of at the end of the year. | #Extracted teeth stored at the College of Dentistry for use by students in pre-clinic laboratory are stored in dilute hypochlorite solution (generally a 1:10 dilution). This leaches the mercury from the restorations and the solution is picked up by UNL Environmental Health and Safety when the teeth are disposed of at the end of the year. | ||
==Technotrash== | ==Technotrash== | ||
Electronic trash is disposed using an appropriate channel that can handle the chemical hazards of the item and taking into account the presence or absence of personal health information (PHI). Items containing PHI are disposed in accordance with hospital policy IM14 and UNMC Policy No. 6056, [http://wiki.unmc.edu/Confidential_Information Retention and Destruction/Disposal of Private and Confidential Information](Examples: CD/DVD, barcode lab label printer ribbons, hard drives, copiers, etc.) | Electronic trash is disposed using an appropriate channel that can handle the chemical hazards of the item and taking into account the presence or absence of personal health information (PHI). Items containing PHI are disposed in accordance with hospital policy IM14 and UNMC Policy No. 6056, [http://wiki.unmc.edu/Confidential_Information Retention and Destruction/Disposal of Private and Confidential Information](Examples: CD/DVD, barcode lab label printer ribbons, hard drives, copiers, etc.). | ||
==Additional Information== | ==Additional Information== | ||
*Contact [mailto:jhauser@unmc.edu UNMC Safety] | *Contact [mailto:jhauser@unmc.edu UNMC Safety] | ||
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*UNMC Policy No. 2004, [[Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure]] | *UNMC Policy No. 2004, [[Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure]] | ||
*UNMC Policy No. 6056, [http://wiki.unmc.edu/Confidential_Information Retention and Destruction/Disposal of Private and Confidential Information] | *UNMC Policy No. 6056, [http://wiki.unmc.edu/Confidential_Information Retention and Destruction/Disposal of Private and Confidential Information] | ||
*http://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/biohazardous-waste/2005-waste-handling-attachments-2014.pdf Attachments I-V] | *UNMC Policy No. 2005, [http://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/biohazardous-waste/2005-waste-handling-attachments-2014.pdf Attachments I-V] | ||
*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]. | ||