Environmental Health & Safety
In Compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1030 OSHA Standard for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
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Disposal of Regulated Medical Waste
Point of Generation - General Guidelines
For legal and safety reasons, it is imperative that as potential generators of regulated medical waste you handle and dispose of it properly. It should be realized that regulated medical waste is a subset of, and includes, only certain categories of medical waste.
The following general categories are defined as regulated medical waste (RMW):
- Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals from medical, pharmaceutical or other research, commercial, or industrial laboratories including laboratory wastes that were in contact with these agents.
- Human pathological wastes including tissue, organs, body parts, body fluids* and items saturated to the point of dripping with these fluids removed during surgery, autopsy or other medical procedures.
- Human blood and blood products including items saturated to the point of dripping with free flowing blood or blood products.
- Sharps that have been used in animal or human patient care or treatment or in medical, research or industrial laboratories as well as certain other unused sharps that are discarded.
- Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts and bedding of animals that were known to have been exposed to infectious agents.
*Feces or material saturated with feces is not RMW. Urine unless submitted as a clinical specimen for laboratory tests or is from a patient known to have a disease which may be transmitted through urine is not RMW.
- Solid Regulated Medical Waste is deposited in red plastic bags for autoclaving. In some areas RMW may be initially disposed of in a clear plastic bag with ultimate disposal in a red bag. Autoclaving at the laboratory for most red-bagged (RMW) waste is not necessary. However, certain high-risk labs may be required or may desire to autoclave their waste in the laboratory prior to handling by Housekeeping staff. Recombinant DNA wastes may require special handling (contact Biological Safety Officer). State law prohibits disposal of untreated regulated medical waste in landfills.
- Liquid Regulated Medical Waste including blood can be deposited in the sewer by using a toilet or designated sink. However, public toilets or sinks should not be used nor should sinks be used that are designated for handwashing or instrument cleaning. If liquid RMW will not be emptied, it must be disposed of in a leakproof container, ensuring that any lids or opening are sealed.
- Sharps including needles, blades, sharp pipettes, slides, broken/contaminated glass or any other item that could puncture a bag must be deposited in hospital-approved sharp containers. Never place sharps in plastic bags or anywhere other than in approved sharps shelters. As a general rule, sharps shelters must not be overfilled and are replaced when ¾ full. Sharps shelters are replaced by area designee.
- Regular trash (non-regulated) is deposited in plastic bags and is placed in the compactor for land-filling. In the Medical School labs there are separate containers for unbroken, non-regulated glassware waste, which are emptied on a set schedule by Environmental Services.
- Hazardous chemical waste as well as radioactive waste require detailed, special handling. The EH&S Hazardous Waste Management Unit should be contacted for chemical waste disposal, and the EH&S Radiation Safety Unit for radioactive waste.
- Antineoplastic waste (chemotherapeutic waste), either separate or mixed with RMW and generated in healthcare settings is segregated and disposed of as per Strong Memorial Hospital Policy 7.10 “Antineoplastic and Other Toxic Agents Guidelines for Handling”. Such waste generated in the laboratory and Vivarium settings are segregated for disposal by the EH&S Hazardous Waste Management Unit.
- Containers used to store and transport solid RMW are sanitized on a regular basis. Such containers are sanitized at the Medical Center Rotoclave each time they are emptied. Other containers used to hold red bags are decontaminated as per Housekeeping schedules.
Note: Unbroken, used blood vials/tubes from Clinical Labs are considered sharps and must be disposed of accordingly. Some Clinical Labs have specifically designed boxes for these tubes.
- Environmental Services -- ext. 5-6252
- Environmental Health & Safety
- Biological Safety Officer -- ext. 5-3241 or ext. 5-3014
- Environmental Compliance/Hazardous Waste Management Unit -- ext. 5-2056
- Radiation Safety Unit -- ext. 5-3781
- University Sanitarian -- ext. 5-8405
- Infection Prevention (SMH) -- ext. 5-7716
- Infection Control (Eastman Institute for Oral Health) -- ext. 5-2662
Continue to Appendix 6 Important Telephone Numbers
QUESTIONS? Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail EH&S Questions.
This page last updated 8/23/2019. Disclaimer
