Waste Handling: Difference between revisions

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Policy No: <strong>2005</strong><br />
Policy No: <strong>2005</strong><br />
Effective Date: <strong>08/25/06</strong><br />
Effective Date: <strong>08/25/06</strong><br />
Revised Date: <strong>10/09/14</strong><br />
Revised Date: <strong>10/10/14</strong><br />
Reviewed Date: <strong>10/09/14</strong><br />
Reviewed Date: <strong>10/09/14</strong><br />
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#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.
#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. 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.
#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 Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan (See 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/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 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).
#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 [http://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/biohazardous-waste/2005-waste-handling-attachments-2014.pdf Attachment V] 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
#*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 ([http://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/biohazardous-waste/2005-waste-handling-attachments-2014.pdf Attachment 1]) is autoclaved 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 ([http://info.unmc.edu/safety/safety-office/biohazardous-waste/2005-waste-handling-attachments-2014.pdf Attachment I]) 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==

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