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PREFACE This Medical Waste Disposal Program was prepared to provide campus laboratory and clinical personnel current information on medical waste disposal techniques. The purpose of this program is to bring together information, which will assist employees in carrying out their legal responsibilities in the proper disposal of medical waste materials.
Medical waste is generated as part of the University's daily operations. The majority of medical waste is generated in the University Health Center and Biological Sciences. Minor amounts of medical waste are occasionally generated in Athletics, Animal Laboratories and Chemistry. The major storage areas are located in Biological Sciences and the University Health Center. The specific locations are in building 4. building 92 and in locked storage bins outside building 46. Biological Sciences is the only department that treats medical waste in autoclaves. All sharps waste and the medical waste generated in the other specified departments are stored in the bins at building 46 and shipped to an treatment facility twice each week. Because of the need to reuse laboratory glassware and other items, Biological Sciences operates several autoclaves located in building 4.
All personnel using biohazardous materials or sharps should become familiar with this medical waste disposal program and conduct their operation in accordance with the level of risk of the materials they handle. The success of any control program depends upon the personnel who are motivated toward a safe working environment and who have knowledge of safe operational procedures. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety at Cal Poly endeavors to do its part by providing accurate information and technical assistance to aid in the establishment of adequate biohazard controls for the protection of University personnel, the campus community, and the surrounding environment.
1.0 REFERENCE. Chapter 6.1 of Division 20 of the California Health and Safety Code (Appendix A)
2.0 POLICY. It is the policy of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona to handle and dispose of medical wastes in a manner which will not adversely affect (1) the health, safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and visitors; and (2) the environment.
3.0 OBJECTIVE
3.1 To provide students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the campus with the maximum personal safety from illness or injury commensurate with the essential nature of research, teaching, and patient care responsibilities of the University.
3.2 To assure that medical waste materials are not spread to the surrounding communities.
4.0 BACKGROUND
The state of California has determined that medical waste poses a health hazard based either upon the potentrial virulence of the waste material, or the sheer volume of material present. As a result, the provisions of the Medical Waste Management Act apply to any person or company that generates medical waste materials. This includes hospitals, veterinary clinics, microbiology laboratories (includes: analysis, research, and production laboratories), intermediate care facilities, and animal care facilities.
5.0 RESPONSIBILITIES
5.1 University Administrative Officers. The administrative officers of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona have the responsibility to insure that all research, teaching, and patient care activities under their control are conducted in a manner that presents the least possible hazard to employees, students, visitors, and to the surrounding community. 5.2 Department. Responsibility for the health and safety of employees, students, and visitors ultimately rests with the department head. The department head interprets institutional policies and recommendations and assures compliance with their provisions. The department head is responsible for approving the methods for handling and disposing of medical wastes.
5.3 Supervisors. Supervisors at every level have responsibility for biohazard control and the safe handling of sharps. They are responsible for the training of employees in safe practices, for correcting errors and defective conditions which could result in personal injury and/or property damage, and for developing a positive attitude among employees toward biohazard safety and accident prevention.
5.4 Employees. The success or failure of any safety program ultimately rests with each employee. Each employee is responsible for complying with all safety rules, regulations, and procedures required for the task assigned. This is for his or her own protection as well as that of fellow employees. Each employee is responsible for reporting all facts to the immediate supervisor regarding all incidents resulting in personal injury, illness and/or property damage, or any action or condition which may exist that could result in such accidents.
5.5 Environmental Health and Safety Office. The Environmental Health and Safety Office is primarily concerned with accident prevention and health safeguards. It is responsible for the development, implementation, and administration of the health and safety programs at Cal Poly.
6.0 CATEGORIES OF WASTE MATERIALS
6.1 General Waste. Paper, plastics, cloth, etc.
6.2 Medical Waste includes:
a. Laboratory Wastes. Specimen or microbiologic cultures, stocks of infectious agents, live and attenuated vaccines, and culture mediums.
b. Blood or body fluids. Liquid blood elements or other regulated body fluids, or articles contaminated with blood or body fluids.
c. Sharps. Needles, syringes, razor blades, stylets, sharp cutting objects, glass, pasteur or other pipettes.
d. Contaminated Animals. Animal carcasses, body parts, or bedding material.
e. Surgical Specimens. Human or animal parts or tissues removed surgically or by autopsy.
f. Isolation Waste. Waste contaminated with excretion, exudate, or secretions from humans or animals who are isolated due only to the highly communicable diseases listed by Centers for Disease Control as requiring Biosafety Level 4 precautions.
6.3 Hazardous Waste. Spent or used solvents, acids, bases, carcinogens.
6.4 Radioactive Wastes.
7.0 Definition of Medical Waste. Medical waste shall include any of the following, with the exception of hazardous waste, radioactive waste, or waste generated from normal and legal farm operations:
7.1 Laboratory wastes, including cultures of etiologic agents, which pose a substantial threat to health due to their volume and virulence.
7.2 Pathologic specimens, including human or animal tissues, blood elements, excreta, and secretions which contain etiologic agents, and attendant disposable fomites.
7.3 Surgical specimens, including human, or animal parts and tissues removed surgically or at autopsy which in the opinion of the attending physician or veterinarian contain etiologic agents, and attendant disposable fomites.
7.4 Equipment, instruments, utensils and other disposable materials which are likely to transmit etiologic agents from the rooms of humans, or the enclosures of animals, which have been isolated because of suspected or diagnosed communicable disease.
7.5 Human dialysis waste materials including arterial lines and dialyzate membranes.
7.6 Carcasses of animals infected with etiologic agents which may present a substantial hazard to public health if improperly managed.
7.7 Sharps, including needles, syringes, razor blades, stylets, etc.
7.8 Any other material which, in the determination of the facility infection control staff, presents a significant danger of infection because it is contaminated with etiologic agents.
NOTE: As used in this section "etiologic agent" means a type of microorganism, helminth, or virus which causes, or significantly contributes to the cause of, increased morbidity or mortality of human beings.
8.0 MEDICAL WASTE CONTAINMENT AND SEPARATION.
8.1 Medical waste, except for sharps capable of puncturing or cutting, shall be contained for storage in disposable plastic bags which are impervious to moisture and have a strength sufficient to preclude ripping, tearing, or bursting under normal conditions of usage and of handling the waste-filled bags. Bags will be supplied by the individual departments.
8.2 Each bag shall be red in color, impervious to moisture, and constructed of material of sufficient single thickness strength to pass the 165-gram dropped dart impact resistance test as prescribed by Standard D 1709-85 of the American Society for Testing and Materials and certified by the bag manufacturer.
8.3 The bags shall be securely tied so as to prevent leakage or expulsion of solid or liquid wastes during storage, handling or transport.
8.4 Each bag will be labeled with the words "Biohazardous Waste" or with the international biohazard symbol and the word "Biohazard".
8.5 Sharps shall be contained for disposal in rigid puncture-resistant containers which are taped close or tightly lidded to make reopening difficult and prevent loss of any liquid or the contents. The rigid containers shall be labeled with either the words "Sharps Wastes" or the international biohazard symbol and the word Biohazard".
8.6 Sharps shall not be recapped, bent, or broken prior to placement in a sharps container.
8.7 Medical waste shall be separated from other wastes at the point of origin by designated personnel.
9.0 MEDICAL WASTE STORAGE AND SPILL RESPONSE
9.1 Medical waste storage shall be in a manner and location which protects it from animals, rain and wind and does not provide a breeding place or food source for insects or rodents.
9.2 Bagged biohazardous waste or sharps containers shall be placed in a rigid leak resistant container with a tight fitting lid. The container shall be labled with the words "Biohazardous Waste" or with the international biohazard symbol and the word "biohazard" on the sides and the lid so as to be visable from any lateral direction. The rigid container shall be kept clean and in good repair.
9.3 Medical waste shall not be contained or stored above 0øC (32øF) for more than seven days. Medical waste maybe stored below 0øC (32øF) for not more than 90 days before treatment with the written approval of the Department of Health Service. Full sharps containerd shall not be stored for more than seven days without the written approval of the Department of Health Services.
9.4 Reusable rigid containers used for the storage of bagged medical waste shall be protected by disposable liners or other devices which will be removed with the waste. Containers which become contaminated shall be decontaminated by agitation combined with one of the following procedures:
a. Exposure to hot water of at least 82øC (180øF) for a mininum of 15 seconds.
b. Exposure to chemical sanitizer by rinsing with, or immersion in, one of the following for a minimum of three minutes: (1) Hypochlorite solution (500 ppm available chlorine); (2) Phenolic solution (500 ppm active agent); (3) Iodoform solution (100 ppm available iodine); or (4) Quanternary ammonium solution (400 ppm active agent).
c. Exposure to a commercially available sanitizer for at least the time specified by the manufacturer, but never less than three minutes. The commercial sanitizer must contain one of the ingredients and concentrations specified in section 9.4b.
9.5 Supervisors shall train all employees who handle medical waste regarding the use of available sanitizers and spill response procedures in this section. In the event of a leak or spill of medical waste the following procedures should be followed:
a. Evacuate the immediate vicinity of the spill.
b. Assess the health risks to personnel.
c. Obtain necessary personal protective clothing: (1) Impervious gloves; (2) Impervious protective suits; (3) Respirators; and (4) Remote equipment for handling of sharps.
d. If safe to do so, stop the flow of any liquids and contain the spill.
e. Apply absorbent to liquids and collect all spilled material in appropriate red bags or sharps containers.
f. Decontaminate the area by misting or otherwise applying one of the chemical sanitizers listed in sections 9.4b or c.
g. Make sure the chemical sanitizer remains on the contaminated area for at least 3 minutes and throughly contacts all contaminated surfaces and cracks. Contact time for commercial sanitizers must be at least the time specified by the manufacturer, but never less than three minutes.
h. Notify the Environmental Health & Safety Office at extension 3695.
i. If the spill cannot be safely controlled by department personnel or threatens the safety of the environment or human beings then Public Safety and Environmental Health & Safety should be immediately notified by dialing extensions 911 and 3695 respectively.
j. After approval of the Environmental Health & Safety Director or his designee, the sanitized area may be cleaned by regular mopping and disposal of the rinse water into the sewer system.
9.6 Medical waste, as defined in Section 6.2, shall be stored separately from other wastes.
9.7 Any enclosure, designated area or room where medical waste is stored shall be properly secured or supervised continously.
9.8 Any enclosure, designated area or room where medical waste is stored shall be posted with signs visable from all directions of approach from a distance of 25 feet. The wording on the signs shall be in English, "CAUTION--BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA--UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT" and in Spanish, "CUIDADO--ZONA DE RESIDUOS--BIOLOGICOS PELIGROSOS--PROHIBIDA LA ENTRADA A PERSONAS NO AUTHORIZADAS".
9.9 The department shall include the location of all rooms where medical wastes are stored on their hazardous materials inventory.
10.0 MEDICAL WASTE DESTRUCTION
10.1 All medical or toxic materials, and all contaminated equipment or apparatus should be decontaminated before being washed and stored, or discarded. Autoclaving is the preferred method, with the exception of sharps which will be incinerated by a licensed incineration facility. Each individual working with biohazardous materials should be responsible for decontamination before disposal.
10.2 To minimize the hazard to emergency response personnel, all biohazardous materials should be placed in an appropriately marked refrigerator or incubator, or sterilized, or otherwise confined at the close of each workday.
10.3 All autoclaves will be certified for operating efficiency by the monthly use of the biological indicator Bacillus stearothermophilus placed at the center of the load. All autoclaves should bear a sign indicating the maximum permissible pressure and last date of certification. The recording and/or indicating thermometers must be checked during each complete cycle to ensure the attainment of 121 deg. C (250 F) for one-half hour or longer. Thermometers must be calibrated annually.
10.4 Heat sensitive tape or another device must be used for each container that is processed to indicate the attainment of adequate sterilization conditions.
10.5 Each department shall provide written operating procedures for autoclaves used to treat medical waste. These procedures shall be posted at or near each autoclave.
10.6 Operating procedures for autoclaves shall specify: (1) Use of heat sensitive tape and biological indicators; (2) Operating time; (3) Temperature; (4) Pressure; (5)Type of waste; (6) Type of containers; (7) Closure on containers; (8) Pattern of loading; (9) Water content; and (10) Maximum load quantity.
10.7 Each department shall maintain an up-to-date operating log for each autoclave which documents the temperature acheived, duration of temperature, results of heat sensitive tape, results of biological indicator (if used), weight of waste treated, date of treatment, comments or results of annual calibration and signature of operator (Appendix C).
10.8 Copies of the operating procedures, operating log and other records documenting sections 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 shall be maintained by the department for a period of three years and made available for inspection by the Environmental Health & Saftey Office or appropriate regulatory agency.
10.9 Special precautions should be taken to prevent accidental removal of material from an autoclave before it has been sterilized or the simultaneous opening of both doors on a double-door autoclave. Biohazardous materials should not be placed in autoclaves overnight in anticipation of autoclaving the next day.
10.10 Dry hypochlorides or any other strong oxidizing material, MUST NOT be autoclaved with organic materials such as paper, cloth, or oil (i.e. OXIDIZER + ORGANIC MATERIAL + HEAT = MAY PRODUCE AN EXPLOSION).
10.11 All rooms containing biohazardous materials should designate two separate areas for containers labeled:
BIOHAZARDOUS - TO BE AUTOCLAVED
and
NON-INFECTIOUS - TO BE CLEANED
10.12 All floors, laboratory benches, and other surfaces where biohazardous materials are handled should be disinfected as often as deemed necessary by the supervisor. The surroundings should be disinfected after completion of operations involving plating, pipetting, centrifuging and similar procedures with biohazardous materials. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to determine that the disinfectant and the time and method of exposure is effective against the biological agent(s) used in the facility. However, exposure time must be at least 3 minutes with the utilization of a chemical sanitizer listed in section 9.4.b.
10.13 Floor drains should be flooded with water or disinfectant at least once each week in order to fill traps and thus prevent the backflow of sewer gases.
10.14 Floor cleaning procedures which minimize the generation of environmental aerosols should be used. Wet mopping or wet vacuum pick-up is recommended. Water used to mop floors should contain a disinfectant or disinfectant detergent. Dry mopping or dusting should be avoided. Where wet procedures are impractical, dry vacuum cleaning with a HEPA filter on the exhaust, sweeping compound used with push brooms, or dry dust mop heads treated to suppress aerosolization may be used.
10.15 Stock solutions of suitable disinfectants should be maintained in each appropriate room for disinfection purposes. The disinfectant should be kept readily available in the use-dilution.
10.16 General criteria for sterilization of typical contaminated materials are presented in Appendix B. Supervisors are encouraged to review the type of materials being handled and to establish standard conditions for sterilization. Treatment conditions to achieve sterility will vary in relation to the volume of material treated, its contamination level, the moisture content, and other factors.
11.0 MEDICAL WASTE PICK-UP AND TRANSPORTATION
11.1 Medical waste transported off campus will be incinerated at a permitted medical waste treatment facility. The Environmental Health & Safety Office will contract with a registered hazardous waste hauler. The hazardous waste hauler will pick up and transport the medical waste to a permitted medical waste incinerator. The vehicle driver and/or handler, upon arriving at the University, will move the sealed storage container to the closed, secured vehicle. The hazardous waste hauler will provide the driver and/or handler with:
a. Disinfectant solution for self use in disinfection if medical waste accidentally comes in contact with the body.
b. Instruction in the proper use of disinfectant application.
c. Protective clothing and gloves to be worn while handling and transporting medical waste.
11.2 The transport vehicle will be:
a. Cleaned and decontaminated as often as required, using an approved disinfectant solution.
b. So constructed as to provide damage resistant access and a driver's compartment that is a sealed, separate enclosure.
c. Completely enclosed.
d. Posted with instructions inside the driver's compartment of the transport vehicle indicating who is to be contacted by telephone in case of a accident, spill, or leakage of medical waste.
e. Transporting the medical waste only to a facility which has all appropriate and necessary permits and approvals.
f. Labeled with the hazardous waste hauler's name or trademark in a color contrasting with the background so as to be readily legible during daylight hours from a distance of 50 feet, along with the international biohazard symbol and the word "Biohazard".
11.3 The hazardous waste hauler shall ensure that medical waste is transported in fully enclosed rigid containers.
11.4 The hazardous waste hauler will maintain a complete tracking document and provide the generator with a copy at the time medical waste is picked up. The tracking document shall contain the following information:
a. Name, address, and telephone number of the hazardous waste hauler.
b. Type and weight of medical waste transported from the university.
c. Name of the university.
d. Name, address, telephone number, and signature of an authorized representative of the permitted incinerator receiving the waste.
Medical Waste Management Act
Medical Waste Management Act Chapter 6.1 of Division 20 of the California Health and Safety Code
117600. This part shall be known and may be cited as the Medical Waste Management Act.
117605. This part does not preempt any local ordinance regulating infectious waste, as that term was defined by Section 25117.5 as it read on December 31, 1990, if the ordinance was in effect on January 1, 1990, and regulated both large and small quantity generators. Any ordinance may be amended in a manner that is consistent with this part.
117610. The department shall adopt regulations that will establish and ensure statewide standards for uniformity in the implementation and administration of this part and that will promote waste minimization and source reduction.
117615. Notwithstanding Section 117605, with the approval of the director, and in the interest of public health, a local ordinance providing more stringent requirements than specified in this part may be implemented for a specified time period.
117620. The department and any local enforcement agency initially electing to implement a medical waste management program pursuant to this part shall initiate that program and begin enforcement of its provisions on or before April 1, 1991, except for medical waste programs operating under Section 117605.
117625. Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions in this article governs the construction of this part.
117630. "Biohazard bag" means a disposable red bag that is impervious to moisture and has a strength sufficient to preclude ripping, tearing, or bursting under normal conditions of usage and handling of the waste-filled bag. A biohazard bag shall be constructed of material of sufficient single thickness strength to pass the 165-gram dropped dart impact resistance test as prescribed by Standard D 1709-85 of the American Society for Testing and Materials and certified by the bag manufacturer.
117635. "Biohazardous waste" means any of the following: (a) Laboratory waste, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (1) Human or animal specimen cultures from medical and pathology laboratories. (2) Cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories. (3) Wastes from the production of bacteria, viruses, spores, discarded live and attenuated vaccines used in human health care or research, discarded animal vaccines, including Brucellosis and Contagious Ecthyma, as identified by the department, and culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures. (b) Human surgery specimens or tissues removed at surgery or autopsy, which are suspected by the attending physician and surgeon or dentist of being contaminated with infectious agents known to be contagious to humans. (c) Animal parts, tissues, fluids, or carcasses suspected by the attending veterinarian of being contaminated with infectious agents known to be contagious to humans. (d) Waste, which at the point of transport from the generator's site, at the point of disposal, or thereafter, contains recognizable fluid blood, fluid blood products, containers or equipment containing blood that is fluid, or blood from animals known to be infected with diseases which are highly communicable to humans. (e) Waste containing discarded materials contaminated with excretion, exudate, or secretions from humans or animals that are required to be isolated by the infection control staff, the attending physician and surgeon, the attending veterinarian, or the local health officer, to protect others from highly communicable diseases or diseases of animals that are highly communicable to humans. (f) (1) Waste which is hazardous only because it is comprised of human surgery specimens or tissues which have been fixed in formaldehyde or other fixatives, or only because the waste is contaminated through contact with, or having previously contained, chemotherapeutic agents, including, but not limited to, gloves, disposable gowns, towels, and intravenous solution bags and attached tubing which are empty. A biohazardous waste which meets the conditions of this paragraph is not subject to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20. (2) For purposes of this subdivision, "chemotherapeutic agent" means an agent that kills or prevents the reproduction of malignant cells. (3) For purposes of this subdivision, a container, or inner liner removed from a container, which previously contained a chemotherapeutic agent, is empty if the container or inner liner removed from the container has been emptied by the generator as much as possible, using methods commonly employed to remove waste or material from containers or liners, so that the following conditions are met: (A) If the material which the container or inner liner held is pourable, no material can be poured or drained from the container or inner liner when held in any orientation, including, but not limited to, when tilted or inverted. (B) If the material which the container or inner liner held is not pourable, no material or waste remains in the container or inner liner that can feasibly be removed by scraping. (g) Waste that is hazardous only because it is comprised of pharmaceuticals, as defined in Section 117747. Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 117690, medical waste includes biohazardous waste that meets the conditions of this subdivision. Biohazardous waste that meets the conditions of this subdivision is not subject to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20.
117640. "Common storage facility" means any designated accumulation area that is onsite and is used by small quantity generators otherwise operating independently for the storage of medical waste for collection by a registered hazardous waste hauler.
117645. "Container" means the rigid container in which the medical waste is placed prior to transporting for purposes of storage or treatment.
117650. "Enforcement agency" means the department or the local agency administering this part.
117655. "Enforcement officer" means the director, or agents or registered environmental health specialists appointed by the director, and all local health officers, directors of environmental health, and their duly authorized registered environmental health specialists and environmental health specialist trainees, or the designees of the director, local health officers, or the directors of environmental health.
117657. "Fund" means the Medical Waste Management Fund created pursuant to Section 117885.
117660. "Hazardous waste hauler" means a person registered as a hazardous waste hauler pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 25160) and Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 25167.1) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20 and Chapter 30 (commencing with Section 66001) of Division 4 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
117662. "Health care professional" means any person licensed or certified pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code; any person licensed pursuant to the Osteopathic Initiative Act, as set forth in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 3600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or pursuant to the Chiropractic Initiative Act, as set forth in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code; and any person certified pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 1797).
117665. "Highly communicable diseases" means diseases, such as those caused by organisms classified by the federal Centers for Disease Control as Biosafety Level IV organisms, that, in the opinion of the infection control staff, the department, local health officer, attending physician and surgeon, or attending veterinarian, merit special precautions to protect staff, patients, and other persons from infection. "Highly communicable diseases" does not include diseases such as the common cold, influenza, or other diseases not representing a significant danger to nonimmunocompromised persons.
117670. "Household waste" means any material, including garbage, trash, and sanitary wastes in septic tanks and medical waste, that is derived from households, farms, or ranches. Household waste does not include trauma scene waste.
117672. "Industrial hygienist" means a person who has met the educational requirements of an industrial hygiene certification organization, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 20700 of the Business and Professions Code, and who has had at least one year in the comprehensive practice of industrial hygiene, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 20700 of the Business and Professions Code.
117675. "Infectious agent" means a type of microorganism, bacteria, mold, parasite, or virus that normally causes, or significantly contributes to the cause of, increased morbidity or mortality of human beings.
117680. "Large quantity generator" means a medical waste generator, other than a trauma scene waste management practitioner, that generates 200 or more pounds of medical waste in any month of a 12-month period.
117685. "Local agency" means the local health department, as defined in Section 101185, or the local comprehensive environmental agency established in accordance with Section 101275, of a county that has elected to adopt a local ordinance to administer and enforce this part, pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 117800).
117690. (a) "Medical waste" means waste that meets both of the following requirements: (1) The waste is composed of waste that is generated or produced as a result of any of the following actions: (A) Diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals. (B) Research pertaining to the activities specified in subparagraph (A). (C) The production or testing of biologicals. (D) The accumulation of properly contained home-generated sharps waste that is brought by a patient, a member of the patient's family, or by a person authorized by the enforcement agency, to a point of consolidation approved by the enforcement agency pursuant to Section 117904 or authorized pursuant to Section 118147. (E) Removal of a regulated waste, as defined in Section 5193 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, from a trauma scene by a trauma scene waste management practitioner. (2) The waste is either of the following: (A) Biohazardous waste. (B) Sharps waste. (b) For purposes of this section, "biologicals" means medicinal preparations made from living organisms and their products, including, but not limited to, serums, vaccines, antigens, and antitoxins. (c) Medical waste includes trauma scene waste.
117695. Medical waste that has been treated in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215) and that is not otherwise hazardous, shall thereafter be considered solid waste as defined in Section 40191 of the Public Resources Code and not medical waste.
117700. Medical waste does not include any of the following: (a) Waste generated in food processing or biotechnology that does not contain an infectious agent as defined in Section 117675. (b) Waste generated in biotechnology that does not contain human blood or blood products or animal blood or blood products suspected of being contaminated with infectious agents known to be communicable to humans. (c) Urine, feces, saliva, sputum, nasal secretions, sweat, tears, or vomitus, unless it contains fluid blood, as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 117635. (d) Waste which is not biohazardous, such as paper towels, paper products, articles containing nonfluid blood, and other medical solid waste products commonly found in the facilities of medical waste generators. (e) Hazardous waste, radioactive waste, or household waste. (f) Waste generated from normal and legal veterinarian, agricultural, and animal livestock management practices on a farm or ranch.
117705. "Medical waste generator" means any person whose act or process produces medical waste and includes, but is not limited to, a provider of health care, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 56.05 of the Civil Code. All of the following are examples of businesses that generate medical waste: (a) Medical and dental offices, clinics, hospitals, surgery centers, laboratories, research laboratories, unlicensed health facilities, those facilities required to be licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200), chronic dialysis clinics, as regulated pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200), and education and research facilities. (b) Veterinary offices, veterinary clinics, and veterinary hospitals. (c) Pet shops. (d) Trauma scene waste management practitioners.
117710. "Medical waste management plan" means a document that is completed by generators of medical waste pursuant to Sections 117935 and 117960, on forms prepared by the enforcement agency.
117715. "Medical waste permit" means a permit issued by the enforcement agency to a medical waste treatment facility.
117720. "Medical waste registration" means a registration issued by the enforcement agency to a medical waste generator.
117725. (a) "Medical waste treatment facility" means all adjacent land and structures, and other appurtenances or improvements on the land, used for treating medical waste or for associated handling and storage of medical waste. Medical waste treatment facilities are those facilities treating waste pursuant to subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 118215. A medical waste treatment method approved pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 118215 may be designated as a medical waste treatment facility by the department. (b) "Adjacent," for purposes of subdivision (a), means real property within 400 yards from the property boundary of the existing medical waste treatment facility.
117730. "Mixed waste" means mixtures of medical and nonmedical waste. Mixed waste is medical waste, except for all of the following: (a) Medical waste and hazardous waste is hazardous waste and is subject to regulation as specified in the statutes and regulations applicable to hazardous waste. (b) Medical waste and radioactive waste is radioactive waste and is subject to regulation as specified in the statutes and regulations applicable to radioactive waste. (c) Medical waste, hazardous waste, and radioactive waste is radioactive mixed waste and is subject to regulation as specified in the statutes and regulations applicable to hazardous waste and radioactive waste.
117735. "Offsite" means any location that is not onsite.
117740. (a) "Onsite" means a medical waste treatment facility, or common storage facility on the same or adjacent property as the generator of the medical waste being treated. (b) "Adjacent," for purposes of subdivision (a), means real property within 400 yards from the property boundary of the existing medical waste treatment facility.
117742. "Parent organization" means an organization that employs or contracts with health care professionals who provide health care services at a location other than at a health care facility specified in subdivision (a) of Section 117705.
117745. "Person" means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, business concern, partnership, association, limited liability company, and corporation, including, but not limited to, a government corporation. "Person" also includes any city, county, district, commission, the state or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof, the Regents of the University of California, any interstate body, and the federal government or any department or agency thereof to the extent permitted by law.
117747. (a) "Pharmaceutical" means a prescription or over-the-counter human or veterinary drug, including, but not limited to, a drug as defined in Section 109925 or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended, (21 U.S.C.A. Sec. 321(g)(1)). (b) For purposes of this part, "pharmaceutical" does not include any pharmaceutical that is regulated pursuant to either of the following: (1) The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C.A. Sec. 6901 et seq.). (2) The Radiation Control Law (Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 114960) of Part 9).
117750. "Sharps container" means a rigid puncture-resistant container that, when sealed, is leak resistant and cannot be reopened without great difficulty.
117755. "Sharps waste" means any device having acute rigid corners, edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (a) Hypodermic needles, hypodermic needles with syringes, blades, needles with attached tubing, syringes contaminated with biohazardous waste, acupuncture needles, and root canal files. (b) Broken glass items, such as Pasteur pipettes and blood vials contaminated with biohazardous waste. (c) Any item capable of cutting or piercing that is contaminated with trauma scene waste.
117760. "Small quantity generator" means a medical waste generator, other than a trauma scene waste management practitioner, that generates less than 200 pounds per month of medical waste.
117765. "Storage" means the holding of medical wastes, in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 118275), at a designated accumulation area, offsite point of consolidation, transfer station, other registered facility, or in a vehicle detached from its means of locomotion.
117770. "Tracking document" means the medical waste tracking document specified in Section 118040.
117775. (a) "Transfer station" means any offsite location where medical waste is loaded, unloaded, stored, or consolidated by a registered hazardous waste hauler, or a holder of a limited quantity hauling exemption granted pursuant to Section 118030, during the normal course of transportation of the medical waste. (b) "Transfer station" does not include any onsite facility, including, but not limited to, common storage facilities, facilities of medical waste generators employed for the purpose of consolidation, or onsite treatment facilities.
117776. (a) "Trauma scene" means a location soiled by, or contaminated with, human blood, human body fluids, or other residues from the scene of a serious human injury, illness, or death. (b) For purposes of this section, a location may include, but is not limited to, a physical structure that is not fixed geographically, such as mobile homes, trailers, or vehicles.
117777. "Trauma scene waste" means waste that is a regulated waste, as defined in Section 5193 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, and that has been removed, is to be removed, or is in the process of being removed, from a trauma scene by a trauma scene waste management practitioner.
117778. "Trauma scene waste management practitioner" means a person who undertakes as a commercial activity the removal of human blood, human body fluids, and other associated residues from the scene of a serious human injury, illness, or death, and who is registered with the department pursuant to Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 118321).
117780. "Treatment" means any method, technique, or process designed to change the biological character or composition of any medical waste so as to eliminate its potential for causing disease, as specified in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215).
117800. A local agency may implement a medical waste management program by the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by the local governing body, in accordance with this part.
117805. Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section
117810, a local agency that elects to implement a medical waste management program shall notify the department within 90 days from the effective date of the act enacting this part.117810. (a) If a local agency does not elect to implement a medical waste management program, the local agency may elect to contract with another local agency to implement a medical waste management program or to implement it at a later date. This election shall be made by the local governing body, that shall take effect 90 days after a notice of election is filed with the department. (b) A local agency that elects to implement a medical waste management program shall continue to implement that program until the local governing body terminates the election by resolution or ordinance or the department revokes the authority of the local agency to administer a medical waste management program. The local agency shall file the notice of termination with the department at least 180days prior to the termination date.
117815. Any local agency that has elected to implement a medical waste management program shall maintain a program that is consistent with Section 117820 and the regulations adopted pursuant to that section. With the approval of the department, the local agency may administer or enforce this part with respect to any person.
117820. A medical waste management program shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (a) Issuing medical waste registrations pursuant to Chapter 5(commencing with Section 117950) and permits pursuant to Chapter 7(commencing with Section 118130). (b) Processing and reviewing the medical waste management plans and inspecting onsite treatment facilities in accordance with Chapter4 (commencing with Section 117925) for all small quantity medical waste generators required to be registered. (c) Conducting an evaluation, inspection, or records review for all facilities or persons issued a large quantity medical waste registration pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 117950)or issued a permit for an onsite medical waste treatment facility pursuant to Section 118130. (d) Inspecting medical waste generators in response to complaints or emergency incidents, or as part of an investigation or evaluation of the implementation of the medical waste management plan. (e) Inspecting medical waste treatment facilities in response to a complaint or as part of an investigation or emergency incident. (f) Taking enforcement action for the suspension or revocation of medical waste permits issued by the local agency pursuant to this part. (g) Referring or initiating proceedings for civil or criminal prosecution of violations specified in Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 118335). (h) Reporting in a manner determined by the department so that the statewide effectiveness of the program can be determined.
117825. Each local enforcement agency that elects to implement the medical waste management program may prescribe, by resolution or ordinance, the registration and permit fees necessary to pay its reasonable expenses to administer the program.
117830. (a) A local agency electing to implement a medical waste management program is the enforcement agency for the jurisdiction where it is located and so designated by the department. (b) In any local jurisdiction where the local agency does not elect to implement a medical waste management program, the department is the enforcement agency. (c) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a district attorney, city attorney, or city prosecutor from bringing any enforcement action for violation of this chapter.
117835. The department shall establish and maintain a data base of persons registered under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 117925)and persons registered under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 117950) for whom the department is the enforcement agency.
117840. It is the intent of the Legislature that the program carried out pursuant to this part be fully supported from the fees received pursuant to this part.
117845. The department shall implement this part so as to maximize the funds that may be received from the federal government.
117850. Information may be shared between the department and the Environmental Protection Agency.
117855. If the department finds that a local enforcement agency is not consistently fulfilling its responsibilities, the department shall notify the agency of the particular reasons for finding that the agency is not fulfilling its responsibilities and of the department's intention to withdraw its designation if, within a time to be specified in that notification, but in no event less than 30days, the agency does not take the corrective action specified by the department.
117860. If the department withdraws its designation of a local enforcement agency, the department shall become the enforcement agency within the jurisdiction of the local enforcement agency.
117870. If the department identifies significant violations of minimum requirements that were not identified and resolved through previous inspections by the local enforcement agency, the department shall do all of the following: (a) Conduct a performance review of the agency within 120 days. (b) Prepare a written performance report within 60 days of the review. (c) Require the submission of a plan of correction by the agency within 90 days of receiving the report.
117875. The department shall withdraw a local enforcement agency's designation pursuant to Section 117860 if it determines that the enforcement agency has failed to submit an adequate plan of correction or has failed to implement the plan.
117880. If the department becomes the enforcement agency, it may charge the fees specified in this part.
117885. (a) There is in the State Treasury the Medical Waste Management Fund, that shall be administered by the director. Money deposited in the fund shall be available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of this part. (b) In addition to any other funds transferred by the Legislature to the Medical Waste Management Fund, the following shall be deposited in the fund: (1) Fees, penalties, interest earned, and fines collected by, or on behalf of, the department pursuant to this part. (2) Funds granted by the federal government for purposes of carrying out this part. (c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 1993.
117890. No large quantity generator shall generate medical waste unless the large quantity generator is registered with the enforcement agency pursuant to this part.
117895. A small quantity generator that treats medical waste onsite by steam sterilization, incineration, or microwave technology shall register with the enforcement agency pursuant to this part.
117900. No person shall haul medical waste unless the person meets either of the following requirements: (a) The person is registered pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 25160) and Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 25167.1)of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20 and Chapter 30 (commencing with Section 66001) of Division 4 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. (b) The person has an approved limited-quantity exemption granted pursuant to Section 118030.
117903. No person shall treat medical waste unless the person is permitted by the enforcement agency as required by this part or unless the treatment is performed by a medical waste generator and is a treatment method approved pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 118215.
117904. (a) In addition to the consolidation points authorized pursuant to Section 118147, the enforcement agency may approve a location as a point of consolidation for the collection of home-generated sharps waste, which, after collection, shall be transported and treated as medical waste. (b) A consolidation location approved pursuant to this section shall be known as a "home-generated sharps consolidation point." (c) A home-generated sharps consolidation point is not subject to the requirements of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 118275), to the permit or registration requirements of this part, or to any permit or registration fees, with regard to the activity of consolidating home-generated sharps waste pursuant to this section. (d) A home-generated sharps consolidation point shall comply with all of the following requirements: (1) All sharps waste shall be placed in sharps containers. (2) Sharps containers ready for disposal shall not be held for more than seven days without the written approval of the enforcement agency. (e) An operator of a home-generated sharps consolidation point approved pursuant to this section shall not be considered the generator of that waste. (f) The medical waste treatment facility which treats the sharps waste subject to this section shall maintain the tracking documents required by Sections 118040 and 118165 with regard to that sharps waste.
117905. The department is the enforcement agency for offsite treatment facilities.
117908. The accumulated medical waste of more than one medical waste generator shall not be stored in a common storage facility unless that facility is registered with the enforcement agency.
117910. The department shall provide ongoing technical assistance and guidance to local enforcement agencies to assist them in their decision making processes. This assistance shall include, but is not limited to, providing all of the following: (a) Technical studies and reports. (b) Copies of innovative facility operation plans. (c) Investigative findings and analysis of new waste management practices and procedures.
117915. Containment and storage of medical waste shall be in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 118275).
117918. Treatment of medical waste shall be in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215).
117920. The fee schedule specified in Section 117923 shall be for the issuance of medical waste registrations and for conducting inspections pursuant to this chapter when the department serves as the enforcement agency for small quantity generators. This fee schedule shall be adjusted annually in accordance with Section100425. On or before January 1, 1993, the department may adjust by regulation the fees specified in Section 117923 to reflect the actual costs of implementing this chapter. Local enforcement agencies shall set fees that shall be sufficient to cover their costs in implementing this part with regard to small quantity generators required to be registered pursuant to Section 117925.
117923. (a) The registration and inspection fee for small quantity generators using onsite treatment, including an autoclave, incinerator, or microwave technology, to treat medical waste is one hundred dollars ($100), that shall be paid once every two years. (b) The annual permit fee for a common storage facility permitted pursuant to Section 117928 is the amount specified in the following schedule: (1) For storage facilities serving 10 or fewer generators, the permit fee is one hundred dollars ($100). (2) For storage facilities serving 11 or more generators, but not more than 50 generators, the permit fee is two hundred fifty dollars($250). (3) For storage facilities serving more than 50 generators, the permit fee is five hundred dollars ($500).
117924. (a) When the department is the enforcement agency, the department shall impose and cause the collection of an annual medical waste generator fee in an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars($25) on small quantity generators of medical waste, except for those small quantity generators that are required to register pursuant to Section 117925 and those generators generating only biohazardous waste as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 117635. Nothing in this part shall prevent the department from contracting with entities other than the department for these fee collection activities or from entering into agreements with medical waste transporters or providers of medical waste mail-back systems for the collection of these fees, if the department determines that such a fee collection arrangement would be cost-effective. (b) If the department determines to enter into a contract with a medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems for the collection of the fees, the department shall do all of the following: (1) Establish that not more than 5 percent of the fees collected may be recovered by the medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems as administrative costs for the collection of those fees. (2) Establish that the administrative costs for the collection of the fees shall be the same for all medical waste transporters and providers of medical waste mail-back systems. (3) Prohibit any medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems from waiving the generator fee without the written approval of the department and only if the medical waste generator has made a written request for the waiver. (4) Require the medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems to report the fees collected pursuant to subdivision (a) to the department. (5) Prohibit the medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems from assuming the role of the department as an enforcement agent for purposes of collecting the medical waste generator fees. (6) Require medical waste transporters or providers of medical waste mail-back systems to include the following language in at least 12-point type on their invoices to medical waste generators. "Pursuant to Section 117924 of the California Health and Safety Code, the State Department of Health Services has contracted with us to collect your annual medical waste generator fee. The department may offset our costs of collection and administration in an amount that may not exceed 5 percent of the fee collected. We may not waive the fee without written approval of the department, and only if you have made a written request for the waiver."
117925. (a) Each small quantity generator using onsite steam sterilization, incineration, or microwave technology to treat medical waste shall register with the enforcement agency. Small quantity generators owning or operating a medical waste treatment facility shall also apply for a permit for that treatment facility pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 118130). (b) Small quantity generators using onsite treatment, as specified in subdivision (a), that operate as a business in the same building, or that are associated with a group practice in the same building, may register as one generator. (c) Small quantity generators using onsite treatment, as specified in subdivision (a), as specified in subdivision (b), operating indifferent buildings on the same or adjacent property, or as approved by the enforcement agency, may register as one generator. (d) "Adjacent," for purposes of subdivision (c), means real property within 400 yards from the property boundary of the primary registration site.
117928. (a) Any common storage facility for the collection of medical waste produced by small quantity generators operating independently, but sharing common storage facilities, shall have a permit issued by the enforcement agency. (b) A permit for any common storage facility specified in subdivision (a) may be obtained by any one of the following: (1) A provider of health care as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 56.05 of the Civil Code. (2) The registered hazardous waste transporter. (3) The property owner. (4) The property management firm responsible for providing tenant services to the medical waste generators.
117930. Small quantity generators that treat waste onsite, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 117925, shall register with the enforcement agency prior to the commencement of treatment.
117933. Common storage facilities subject to Section 117928 shall obtain a permit from the enforcement agency on or before April 1,1991, where the storage of medical waste in the common storage facility began prior to that date. In those cases where the storage of medical waste begins after April 1, 1991, permits shall be obtained pursuant to this chapter prior to commencement of storage of medical waste in the common storage facility.
117935. Any small quantity generator required to register with the enforcement agency pursuant to Section 117930 shall file with the enforcement agency a medical waste management plan, on forms prescribed by the enforcement agency containing, but not limited to, all of the following: (a) The name of the person. (b) The business address of the person. (c) The type of business. (d) The types, and the estimated average monthly quantity, of medical waste generated. (e) The type of treatment used onsite. (f) The name and business address of the registered hazardous waste hauler used by the generator for backup treatment and disposal, for waste when the onsite treatment method is not appropriate due to the hazardous or radioactive characteristics of the waste, or the name of the registered hazardous waste hauler used by the generator to have untreated medical waste removed for treatment and disposal. (g) A statement indicating that the generator is hauling the medical waste generated in his or her business pursuant to Section 118030 and the name and any business address of the treatment and disposal facilities to which the waste is being hauled, if applicable. (h) The name and business address of the registered hazardous waste hauler service provided by the building management to which the building tenants may subscribe or are required by the building management to subscribe and the name and business address of the treatment and disposal facilities used, if applicable. (i) A statement certifying that the information provided is complete and accurate.
117938. (a) Small quantity generators using onsite steam sterilization, incineration, or microwave technology to treat medical waste are subject to biennial inspection of that onsite treatment facility by the enforcement agency and may be subject to the permitting requirements for onsite medical waste treatment facilities as determined by the enforcement agency. (b) The inspection and permitting requirements of subdivision (a)do not apply when onsite steam sterilization is not used for the treatment or disposal of medical waste.
117940. (a) Each enforcement agency shall follow procedures consistent with this chapter in registering medical waste generators. (b) Each medical waste generator registration issued by the enforcement agency shall be valid for two years. (c) An application for renewal of the registration shall be filed with the enforcement agency on or before the expiration date. (d) Generators shall submit within 30 days an updated application form when any of the information specified in subdivisions (a) to(i), inclusive, of Section 117935 changes.
117943. A medical waste generator required to register pursuant to this chapter shall maintain individual treatment, and tracking records, if applicable, for three years, or for the period specified in the regulations, and shall report or submit to the enforcement agency, upon request, both of the following: (a) Treatment operating records. (b) An emergency action plan complying with regulations adopted by the department.
117945. Small quantity generators who are not required to register pursuant to this chapter shall maintain on file in their office all of following: (a) An information document stating how the generator contains, stores, treats, and disposes of any medical waste generated through any act or process of the generator. (b) Records of any medical waste transported offsite for treatment and disposal, including the quantity of waste transported, the date transported, and the name of the registered hazardous waste hauler or individual hauling the waste pursuant to Section 118030. The small quantity generator shall maintain these records for not more than two years.
117950. (a) Each large quantity generator, except as specified in subdivisions (b) and (c), shall register with the enforcement agency. Large quantity generators owning or operating a medical waste treatment facility shall also apply for a permit for that treatment facility pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 118130). (b) Large quantity generators operating as a business in the same building, or that are associated with a group practice in the same building, may register as one generator. (c) Large quantity generators as specified in subdivision (a), operating in different buildings on the same or adjacent property, or as approved by the enforcement agency, may register as one generator. (d) "Adjacent," for purposes of subdivision (c), means real property within 400 yards from the property boundary of the primary registration site.
117955. Large quantity generators subject to Section 117950 shall register with the enforcement agency on or before April 1, 1991, if the generation of medical waste began prior to that date. In those cases where the generation of medical waste begins after April 1, 1991, registration shall be completed pursuant to this chapter prior to commencement of the generation of medical waste.
117960. Any large quantity generator required to register with the enforcement agency pursuant to Section 117950 shall file with the enforcement agency a medical waste management plan, on forms prescribed by the enforcement agency containing, but not limited to, all of the following: (a) The name of the person. (b) The business address of the person. (c) The type of business. (d) The types, and the estimated average monthly quantity, of medical waste generated. (e) The type of treatment used onsite, if applicable. For generators with onsite medical waste treatment facilities, including incinerators or steam sterilizers or other treatment facilities as determined by the enforcement agency, the treatment capacity of the onsite treatment facility. (f) The name and business address of the registered hazardous waste hauler used by the generator to have untreated medical waste removed for treatment, if applicable. (g) The name and business address of the registered hazardous waste hauler service provided by the building management to which the building tenants may subscribe or are required by the building management to subscribe, if applicable. (h) The name and business address of the offsite medical waste treatment facility to which the medical waste is being hauled, if applicable. (i) An emergency action plan complying with regulations adopted by the department. (j) A statement certifying that the information provided is complete and accurate.
117965. Large quantity generators shall be subject to at least annual inspection by the enforcement agency.
117970. (a) Each enforcement agency shall follow procedures consistent with this chapter in registering medical waste generators.
(b) Each medical waste registration issued by the enforcement agency shall be valid for one year. (c) An application for renewal of the registration shall be filed with the enforcement agency not less than 90 days prior to the expiration date. Failure to meet this requirement shall result in an assessment of a late fee. (d) Generators shall submit within 30 days an updated application form when any of the information specified in subdivisions (a) to (j), inclusive, of Section 117960 changes.
117975. A medical waste generator required to register pursuant to this chapter shall maintain individual treatment, and tracking records, if medical waste is removed from the generator's site for treatment, for three years or for the period specified in the regulations.
117980. Containment and storage of medical waste shall be in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 118275).
117985. Treatment of medical waste shall be in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215).
117990. The fee schedule specified in Section 117995 shall be for the issuance of medical waste registrations and onsite medical waste treatment facility permits when the department serves as the enforcement agency for large quantity generators. This fee schedule shall be adjusted annually in accordance with Section 100425. On or before January 1, 1993, the department may adjust by regulation the fees specified in Section 117995 to reflect the actual costs of implementing this chapter. Local enforcement agencies shall set fees that shall be sufficient to cover their costs in implementing this part with regard to large quantity generators.
117995. The registration and annual permit fee for large quantity generators shall be set in following amounts: (a) (1) A general acute care hospital, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1250, that has one or more beds, but not more than 99 beds, shall pay six hundred dollars ($600), a facility with 100 or more beds, but not more than 199 beds, shall pay eight hundred sixty dollars ($860), a facility with 200 or more beds, but not more than 250 beds shall pay one thousand one hundred dollars ($1,100), and a facility with 251 or more beds shall pay one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400). (2) In addition to the fees specified in paragraph (1), a general acute care hospital which is providing onsite treatment of medical waste shall pay an annual medical waste treatment facility inspection and permit fee of three hundred dollars ($300), if the facility has one or more beds but not more than 99 beds, five hundred dollars ($500), if the facility has 100 or more beds but not more than 250 beds, and one thousand dollars ($1,000), if the facility has 251 or more beds. (b) A specialty clinic, providing surgical, dialysis, or rehabilitation services, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1204, shall pay three hundred fifty dollars ($350). (c) A skilled nursing facility, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1250, that has one or more beds, but not more than 99 beds shall pay two hundred seventy-five dollars ($275), a facility with 100 or more beds, but not more than 199 beds shall pay three hundred fifty dollars ($350), and a facility with 200 or more beds shall pay four hundred dollars ($400). (d) An acute psychiatric hospital, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1250, shall pay two hundred dollars ($200). (e) An intermediate care facility, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 1250, shall pay three hundred dollars ($300). (f) A primary care clinic, as defined in Section 1200.1, shall pay three hundred fifty dollars ($350). (g) A licensed clinical laboratory, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 1206 of the Business and Professions Code, shall pay two hundred dollars ($200). (h) A health care service plan facility, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 1345, shall pay three hundred fifty dollars ($350). (i) A veterinary clinic or veterinary hospital shall pay two hundred dollars ($200). (j) A large quantity generator medical office shall pay two hundred dollars ($200). (k) In addition to the fees specified in subdivisions (b) to (j), inclusive, a large quantity generator of medical waste which is providing onsite treatment of medical waste shall pay an annual medical waste treatment facility inspection and permit fee of three hundred dollars ($300).
118000. (a) Except as otherwise exempted pursuant to Section 118030, all medical waste transported to an offsite medical waste treatment facility shall be transported in accordance with this chapter by a registered hazardous waste transporter issued a registration certificate pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 118025) and Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 25167.1) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20. A hazardous waste transporter transporting medical waste shall have a copy of the transporter's valid hazardous waste transporter registration certificate in the transporter's possession while transporting medical waste. The transporter shall show the certificate, upon demand, to any enforcement agency personnel or authorized employee of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. (b) Except for small quantity generators transporting medical waste pursuant to Section 118030, medical waste shall be transported to a permitted offsite medical waste treatment facility or a permitted transfer station in leak-resistant and fully enclosed rigid secondary containers that are then loaded into an enclosed cargo body. (c) A person shall not transport medical waste in the same vehicle with other waste unless the medical waste is separately contained in rigid containers or kept separate by barriers from other waste, or unless all of the waste is to be handled as medical waste in accordance with this part. (d) Medical waste shall only be transported to a permitted medical waste treatment facility, or to a transfer station or another registered generator for the purpose of consolidation before treatment and disposal, pursuant to this part. (e) Facilities for the transfer of medical waste shall be annually inspected and issued permits in accordance with the regulations adopted pursuant to this part. (f) Any persons manually loading or unloading containers of medical waste shall be provided by their employer at the beginning of each shift with, and shall be required to wear, clean and protective gloves and coveralls, changeable lab coats, or other protective clothing. The department may require, by regulation, other protective devices appropriate to the type of medical waste being handled.
118005. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, trauma scene waste may be transported by a trauma scene management practitioner registered pursuant to Section 118321.1. (b) The exemption specified in Section 118030 for limited quantity hauling shall not apply to the transportation of trauma scene waste.
(c) (1) A business that has contracted with, or that currently employs, a person whose services may include the cleanup of trauma scene waste in the manner specified in Section 118321.6 may apply, on forms provided by the department, to the department for an exemption from the requirements of Section 118321.1. This exemption shall be known as an incidental trauma scene waste hauling permit, and shall authorize the person to transport, by herself or himself, trauma scene waste that is collected in the manner specified in Section 118321.6 to a permitted medical waste transfer station or a permitted medical waste offsite treatment facility, or to a health care facility, previously designated by mutual agreement, for consolidation with the facility's existing medical waste stream. (2) An application for an incidental trauma scene waste hauling permit shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) and the incidental trauma scene waste hauling permit shall be valid for one cleanup event. The application shall identify any person who will transport trauma scene waste for the business pursuant to paragraph (1).
118025. All medical waste shall be hauled by either a registered hazardous waste hauler or by a person with an approved limited-quantity exemption granted pursuant to Section 118030.
118027. Any person who is authorized to collect solid waste, as defined in Section 40191 of the Public Resources Code, who unknowingly transports medical waste to a solid waste facility, as defined in Section 40194 of the Public Resources Code, incidental to the collection of solid waste is exempt from this chapter with regard to that waste.
118029. (a) On or before September 1, 1993, and each year thereafter on or before July 1, a registered hazardous waste transporter which transports medical waste shall so notify the department, and provide the following information: (1) Business name, address, and telephone number. (2) Name of owner, operator, and contact person. (3) Hazardous waste transporter registration number. (4) Vehicle manufacturer name, vehicle model year, vehicle identification number, and the license plate number of each vehicle transporting medical waste. (b) For transporters that begin transporting medical waste after September 1, 1993, notification to the department, and provision of the information required by subdivision (a) shall be provided to the department prior to transporting medical waste. (c) On or before September 1, 1993, each registered hazardous waste transporter, and each provider of medical waste mail back systems, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 118245, shall provide to the department a list of all medical waste generators serviced by that person during the previous 12 months. That list shall include the business name, business address, mailing address, telephone number, and other information as required by the department to collect annual fees pursuant to Section 117924. When the transportation of registered hazardous waste by a medical waste transporter or the provision of a medical waste mail back system begins after September 1, 1993, the initial list shall be provided to the department within 10 days of the close of the earliest calendar quarter ending September 30, December 31, March 31, or June 30, or as otherwise required by the department. (d) Subsequent to providing the initial list pursuant to subdivision(c), registered hazardous waste transporters and providers of medical waste mail back systems shall submit to the department any changes made to the most recent list every three months, within 10 days of the close of the calendar quarters ending September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30, or as otherwise required by the department.
118030. (a) A medical waste generator or parent organization that employs health care professionals who generate medical waste may apply to the enforcement agency for a limited-quantity hauling exemption, if the generator or health care professional meets all of the following requirements: (1) The generator or health care professional generates less than 20 pounds of medical waste per week, transports less than 20 pounds of medical waste at any one time, and the generator or parent organization has on file one of the following: (A) If the generator or parent organization is a small quantity generator required to register pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 117915), a medical waste management plan prepared pursuant to Section 117935. (B) If the generator or parent organization is a small quantity generator not required to register pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 117915), the information document maintained pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 117945. (C) If the parent organization is a large quantity generator, a medical waste management plan prepared pursuant to Section 117960. (2) The generator or health care professional who generated the medical waste transports the medical waste himself or herself, or directs a member of his or her staff to transport the medical waste, to a permitted medical waste treatment facility, a transfer station, a parent organization, or another health care facility for the purpose of consolidation before treatment and disposal. (3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), the generator maintains a tracking document, as specified in Section 118040. (4) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), if a health care professional who generates medical waste returns the medical waste to the parent organization, a single-page form or multiple entry log may be substituted for the tracking document, if the form or log contains all of the following information: (i) The name of the person transporting the medical waste. (ii) The number of containers and type of medical waste. This subparagraph does not require any generator to maintain a separate medical waste container for every patient or to maintain records as to the specified source of the medical waste in any container. (iii) The date that the medical waste was returned. (B) This paragraph does not prohibit the use of a single document to verify the return of more than one container over a period of time, if the form or log is maintained in the files of the parent organization once the page is completed. (b) The limited-quantity hauling exemption authorized by this section is valid for a period of one year. (c) An application for an initial or a renewal of a limited-quantity hauling exemption shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25). The application shall identify each person who will transport medical waste for the transporter. If the generator or parent organization identifies more than four persons who will be transporting medical waste, the generator or parent organization shall pay an additional fee of five dollars ($5) for each person, up to a maximum additional fee of twenty-five dollars ($25).
118035. For the purpose of transferring medical waste prior to reaching a permitted medical waste treatment facility, medical waste shall not be unloaded, reloaded, or transferred to another vehicle at any location, except at a permitted medical waste transfer station or in the case of a vehicle breakdown or other emergency.
118040. (a) Except with regard to sharps waste consolidated by a home-generated sharps consolidation point approved pursuant to Section 117904, a hazardous waste transporter or generator transporting medical waste shall maintain a completed tracking document of all medical waste removed for treatment or disposal. A hazardous waste transporter or generator who transports medical waste to a facility, other than the final medical waste treatment facility, shall also maintain tracking documents which show the name, address, and telephone number of the medical waste generator, for purposes of tracking the generator of medical waste when the waste is transported to the final medical waste treatment facility. At the time that the medical waste is received by a hazardous waste transporter, the transporter shall provide the medical waste generator with a copy of the tracking document for the generator's medical waste records. The transporter or generator transporting medical waste shall maintain its copy of the tracking document for three years. (b) The tracking document shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information: (1) The name, address, telephone number, and registration number of the transporter, unless transported pursuant to Section 118030. (2) The type and quantity of medical waste transported. (3) The name, address, and telephone number of the generator. (4) The name, address, telephone number, permit number, and the signature of an authorized representative of the permitted facility receiving the medical waste. (5) The date that the medical waste is collected or removed from the generator's facility, the date that the medical waste is received by the transfer station, the registered large quantity generator, or point of consolidation, if applicable, and the date that the medical waste is received by the treatment facility. (c) Any hazardous waste transporter or generator transporting medical waste in a vehicle shall have a tracking document in his or her possession while transporting the medical waste. The tracking document shall be shown upon demand to any enforcement agency personnel or officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. If the medical waste is transported by rail, vessel, or air, the railroad corporation, vessel operator, or airline shall enter on the shipping papers any information concerning the medical waste that the enforcement agency may require. (d) A hazardous waste transporter or a generator transporting medical waste shall provide the facility receiving the medical waste with the original tracking document. (e) Each hazardous waste transporter and each medical waste treatment facility shall provide tracking data periodically and in a format as determined by the department. (f) Medical waste transported out of state shall be consigned to a permitted medical waste treatment facility in the receiving state. If there is no permitted medical waste treatment facility in the receiving state or if the medical waste is crossing an international border, the medical waste shall be treated in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215) prior to being transported out of the state.
118045. (a) The department shall charge an application fee for a permit for a transfer station equal to one hundred dollars ($100) for each hour which the department spends on processing the application, but not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or as provided in the regulations adopted by the department. (b) In addition to the fee specified in subdivision (a), the annual permit fee for a transfer station issued a permit pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 118000 is two thousand dollars ($2,000), or as provided in the regulations adopted pursuant to this part.
118130. All offsite medical waste treatment facilities and transfer stations shall be permitted and inspected by the department. All onsite medical waste treatment facilities shall be permitted and inspected by the enforcement agency.
118135. On or before April 1, 1991, each person operating a medical waste treatment facility shall obtain a permit pursuant to this chapter from the department. If the medical waste treatment facility begins operation after April 1, 1991, the permit shall be obtained pursuant to this article prior to commencement of the treatment facility's operation.
118140. A health care facility accepting medical waste for treatment from the physicians and surgeons who are on the staff of the facility and who are small quantity generators shall be classified as an onsite treatment facility and shall be permitted and inspected by the enforcement agency.
118145. A health care facility accepting medical waste for treatment from small quantity generators that are adjacent to the facility shall be classified as an onsite treatment facility and shall be permitted and inspected by the enforcement agency.
118147. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a registered medical waste generator, which is a facility specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 117705, may accept home-generated sharps waste, to be consolidated with the facility's medical waste stream, subject to all of the following conditions: (a) The generator of the sharps waste, a member of the generator' s family, or a person authorized by the enforcement agency transports the sharps waste to the medical waste generator's facility. (b) The sharps waste is accepted at a central location at the medical waste generator's facility. (c) A reference to, and a description of, the actions taken pursuant to this section are included in the facility's medical waste management plan adopted pursuant to Section 117960.
118150. (a) Each enforcement agency shall follow procedures that are consistent with this chapter, and the regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, when issuing medical waste permits. (b) Each person operating a medical waste treatment facility pursuant to a hazardous waste facilities permit or grant of interim status pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 25200) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20, as of January 1, 1991, shall be considered to have the medical waste permit required by this article until January 1, 1992, unless the enforcement agency with jurisdiction over its activities has taken final action prior to January 1, 1992, on an application for a permit pursuant to this article. (c) Each medical waste facility subject to subdivision (b) shall operate in accordance with the standards and procedures contained in this chapter, and on and after January 1, 1991, is not subject to the standards and procedures contained in Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20.
118155. Any person required to obtain a permit pursuant to this part shall file with the enforcement agency an application, on forms prescribed by the department, containing, but not limited to, all of the following: (a) The name of the applicant. (b) The business address of the applicant. (c) The type of treatment provided, the treatment capacity of the facility, a characterization of the waste treated at this facility, and the estimated average monthly quantity of waste treated at the facility. (d) A disclosure statement, as provided in Section 25112.5, except for onsite medical waste treatment facilities. (e) Evidence satisfactory to the enforcement agency that the operator of the medical waste treatment facility has the ability to comply with this part and the regulations adopted pursuant to this part. (f) Any other information required by the enforcement agency for the administration or enforcement of this part or the regulations adopted pursuant to this part.
118160. (a) Prior to issuing or renewing a permit for an offsite medical waste treatment facility pursuant to Section 118130, the department shall review the compliance history of the applicant, under any local, state, or federal law or regulation governing the control of medical waste or pollution, including, but not limited to, the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq.). (b) The department shall, pursuant to this section, deny a permit, or specify additional permit conditions, to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, if the department determines that in the three-year period preceding the date of application the applicant has violated laws or regulations identified in subdivision (a) at a facility owned or operated by the applicant, and the violations demonstrate a recurring pattern of noncompliance or pose, or have posed, a significant risk to public health and safety or to the environment. (c) In addition to any other information required to be submitted for the permitting of a facility pursuant to Section 118130, an applicant who has owned or operated a facility regulated by the department shall provide a description of all violations described in subdivision (a), that occurred at any facility permitted and owned or operated by the applicant in the state in the three years prior to the date of application. (d) In making the determination of whether to deny a permit or to specify additional permit conditions pursuant to subdivision (b), the department shall take both of the following into consideration: (1) Whether a permit denial or permit condition is appropriate or necessary given the severity of the violation. (2) Whether the violation has been corrected in a timely fashion.
118165. On and after April 1, 1991, all persons operating a medical waste treatment facility shall maintain individual records for a period of three years and shall report or submit to the enforcement agency upon request, all of the following information: (a) The type of treatment facility and its capacity. (b) All treatment facility operating records. (c) Copies of the tracking documents for all medical waste it receives for treatment from offsite generators or from hazardous waste haulers.
118170. (a) A medical waste permit issued by the enforcement agency to a medical waste treatment facility shall be valid for five years.
(b) An application for renewal of the permit shall be filed with the enforcement agency not less than 90 days prior to the expiration date. If a permittee fails to make a timely application for renewal, the medical waste permit shall expire on the expiration date.
118175. (a) A medical waste permit may be renewed if the enforcement agency finds the permittee has been in substantial compliance with this part and the regulations adopted pursuant to this part during the preceding permitted period or that the permittee corrected previous violations in a timely manner. (b) Upon approval of the enforcement agency, a permit may be transferred from one subsidiary to another subsidiary of the same corporation, from a parent corporation to one of its subsidiaries, or from a subsidiary to a parent corporation.
118180. A person required to obtain a medical waste permit shall, at all times, possess a valid permit for each facility in operation. A medical waste permit shall terminate prior to its expiration date if suspended or revoked pursuant to Section 118350 or, notwithstanding Section 118355, if either of the following occurs: (a) The permittee sells or otherwise transfers the facility, except as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 118175. (b) The permittee surrenders the permit to the enforcement agency because the permittee ceases operation.
118185. The enforcement agency shall issue a medical waste permit upon evaluation, inspection, or records review of the applicant if the applicant is in substantial compliance with this part and the regulations adopted pursuant to this part and the applicant has corrected any previous violations. A decision to issue or not to issue the permit shall be made by the enforcement agency within 180 days of the time that the application is deemed complete, unless waived by the applicant.
118190. When issuing, renewing, or revising any treatment facility permit, the enforcement agency may prohibit or condition the handling or treatment of medical waste to protect the public health and safety.
118195. An enforcement agency shall inform an applicant for a medical waste permit, in writing, upon the denial of any application for the permit. Within 20 days after the enforcement agency mails the notice, the applicant may present a written petition for a hearing to the enforcement agency. Upon receipt by the enforcement agency of the petition in proper form, the petition shall be set for hearing. If the department is the enforcement agency, the proceedings shall commence with the filing of a statement of issues and shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the department has all the powers granted to a department in that chapter. If the department is not the enforcement agency, the hearings shall be held in accordance with the ordinance adopting the medical waste management program.
118200. The enforcement agency shall evaluate, inspect, and review the records of medical waste treatment facilities for compliance with this part.
118205. The fee schedule specified in Section 118210 shall cover the issuance of medical waste treatment facility permits and an inspection program, when the department serves as the enforcement agency. This fee schedule shall be adjusted annually in accordance with Section 100425. On or before January 1, 1993, the department may adjust by regulation the fees specified in Section 118210 to reflect the actual costs of implementing this chapter. Local enforcement agencies shall set fees that shall be sufficient to cover their costs in implementing this part with regard to large quantity generators.
118210. (a) The department shall charge an annual permit fee for an offsite medical waste treatment facility equal to either two-tenths of a cent($0.002) for each pound of medical waste treated or ten thousand dollars ($10,000), whichever is greater. (b) The department shall charge an initial application fee for each type of treatment technology at an offsite medical waste treatment facility equal to one hundred dollars ($100) for each hour the department spends processing the application, but not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or as provided in the regulations adopted by the department.
118215. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), a person generating or treating medical waste shall ensure that the medical waste is treated by one of the following methods, thereby rendering it solid waste, as defined in Section 40191 of the Public Resources Code, prior to disposal: (1) (A) Incineration at a permitted medical waste treatment facility in a controlled-air, multichamber incinerator, or other method of incineration approved by the department which provides complete combustion of the waste into carbonized or mineralized ash.
(B) Treatment with an alternative technology approved pursuant to paragraph (3), which, due to the extremely high temperatures of treatment in excess of 1300 degrees Fahrenheit, has received express approval from the department. (2) Steam sterilization at a permitted medical waste treatment facility or by other sterilization, in accordance with all of the following operating procedures for steam sterilizers or other sterilization: (A) Standard written operating procedures shall be established for biological indicators, or for other indicators of adequate sterilization approved by the department, for each steam sterilizer, including time, temperature, pressure, type of waste, type of container, closure on container, pattern of loading, water content, and maximum load quantity. (B) Recording or indicating thermometers shall be checked during each complete cycle to ensure the attainment of 121* Centigrade (250* Fahrenheit) for at least one-half hour, depending on the quantity and density of the load, to achieve sterilization of the entire load. Thermometers shall be checked for calibration annually. Records of the calibration checks shall be maintained as part of the facility's files and records for a period of three years or for the period specified in the regulations. (C) Heat-sensitive tape, or another method acceptable to the enforcement agency, shall be used on each biohazard bag or sharps container that is processed onsite to indicate the attainment of adequate sterilization conditions. (D) The biological indicator Bacillus stearothermophilus, or other indicator of adequate sterilization as approved by the department, shall be placed at the center of a load processed under standard operating conditions at least monthly to confirm the attainment of adequate sterilization conditions. (E) Records of the procedures specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) shall be maintained for a period of not less than three years. (3) (A) Other alternative medical waste treatment methods which are both of the following: (i) Approved by the department. (ii) Result in the destruction of pathogenic micro-organisms. (B) Any alternative medical waste treatment method proposed to the department shall be evaluated by the department and either approved or rejected pursuant to the criteria specified in this subdivision. (b) A medical waste may be discharged to a public sewage system without treatment if it is not a biohazardous waste of a type described in either subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 117635, it is liquid or semiliquid, and its discharge is consistent with waste discharge requirements placed on the public sewage system by the California regional water quality control board with jurisdiction. (c) (1) A medical waste that is a biohazardous waste of a type described in subdivision (a) of Section 117635 may be treated by a chemical disinfection if the medical waste is liquid or semiliquid and the chemical disinfection method is recognized by the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the American Biological Safety Association, and if the use of chemical disinfection as a treatment method is identified in the site' s medical waste management plan. (2) If the waste is not treated by chemical disinfection, in accordance with paragraph (1), the waste shall be treated by one of the methods specified in subdivision (a). (3) Following treatment by chemical disinfection, the medical waste may be discharged to the public sewage system if the discharge is consistent with waste discharge requirements placed on the public sewage system by the California regional water control board, and the discharge is in compliance with the requirements imposed by the owner or operator of the public sewage system. If the chemical disinfection of the medical waste causes the waste to become a hazardous waste, the waste shall be managed in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20.
118220. Recognizable human anatomical parts, with the exception of teeth not deemed infectious by the attending physician and surgeon or dentist, shall be disposed of by interment or in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 118215, unless otherwise hazardous.
118222. (a) Biohazardous waste that meets the conditions of paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 117635 shall be treated pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 118215 prior to disposal. (b) Biohazardous waste that meets the conditions specified in subdivision (g) of Section 117635 shall be treated pursuant to subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 118215 prior to disposal.
118225. (a) Sharps waste shall be rendered noninfectious prior to disposal by one of the following methods: (1) Incineration. (2) Steam sterilization. (3) Disinfection using an alternative treatment method approved by the department. (b) Sharps waste rendered noninfectious pursuant to this section may be disposed of as solid waste if the waste is not otherwise hazardous. (c) Onsite medical waste treatment facilities treating sharps waste pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) shall ensure that, prior to disposal, the treated sharps waste is destroyed or that public access to the treated sharps waste is prevented.
118230. An operator of a hazardous waste incinerator permitted pursuant to Section 25200 may also accept medical waste for incineration.
118235. Each medical waste treatment facility issued a medical waste permit shall provide the enforcement agency with an emergency action plan that the facility shall follow to ensure the proper disposal of medical waste in the event of equipment breakdowns, natural disasters, or other occurrences.
118240. Notwithstanding Section 9141 of the Food and Agricultural Code, animals that die from infectious diseases shall be treated in accordance with Section 118215 if, in the opinion of the attending veterinarian or local health officer, the carcass presents a danger of infection to humans.
118245. (a) The department shall charge an application fee for evaluation of an alternative treatment technology pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 118215 of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) and shall charge an additional fee equal to one hundred dollars ($100) per hour for each hour which the department spends on processing the application, but not more than a total of five thousand dollars ($5,000), or as provided in the regulations adopted by the department. (b) The department shall charge an application fee of one thousand dollars, ($1,000) for evaluation and approval of the use of a medical waste mail back system, which sends medical waste generated in this state to an out-of-state facility for treatment and disposal pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 118040.
118275. To containerize or store medical waste, a person shall do all of the following: (a) Medical waste shall be contained separately from other waste at the point of origin in the producing facility. Sharps containers may be placed in biohazard bags or in containers with biohazard bags.
(b) Biohazardous waste, except biohazardous waste as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 117635, shall be placed in a red biohazard bag conspicuously labeled with the words "Biohazardous Waste" or with the international biohazard symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD." (c) Sharps waste shall be contained in a sharps container pursuant to Section 118285. (d) (1) Biohazardous waste, which meets the conditions of subdivision (f) of Section 117635 because it is contaminated through contact with, or having previously contained, chemotherapeutic agents, shall be segregated for storage, and, when placed in a secondary container, that container shall be labeled with the words "Chemotherapy Waste", "CHEMO", or other label approved by the department on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any lateral direction, to ensure treatment of the biohazardous waste pursuant to Section 118222. (2) Biohazardous waste, which meets the conditions of subdivision (f) of Section 117635 because it is comprised of human surgery specimens or tissues which have been fixed in formaldehyde or other fixatives, shall be segregated for storage and, when placed in a secondary container, that container shall be labeled with the words "Pathology Waste", " PATH", or other label approved by the department on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any lateral direction, to ensure treatment of the biohazardous waste pursuant to Section 118222. (e) Sharps waste, which meets the conditions of subdivision (f) of Section 117635, shall be placed in sharps containers labeled in accordance with the industry standard with the words "Chemotherapy Waste", "Chemo", or other label approved by the department, and segregated to ensure treatment of the sharps waste pursuant to Section 118222. (f) Biohazardous waste, which are recognizable human anatomical parts, as specified in Section 118220, shall be segregated for storage and, when placed in a secondary container for treatment as pathology waste, that container shall be labeled with the words "Pathology Waste", "PATH", or other label approved by the department on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any lateral direction, to ensure treatment of the biohazardous waste pursuant to Section 118222. (g) Biohazardous waste, which meets the conditions specified in subdivision (g) of Section 117635, shall be segregated for storage and, when placed in a container or secondary container, that container shall be labeled with the words "INCINERATION ONLY" or other label approved by the department on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any lateral direction, to ensure treatment of the biohazardous waste pursuant to Section 118222.
118280. To containerize biohazard bags, a person shall do all of the following: (a) The bags shall be tied to prevent leakage or expulsion of contents during all future storage, handling, or transport. (b) Biohazardous waste, except biohazardous waste as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 117635, shall be bagged in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 118275 and placed for storage, handling, or transport in a rigid container which may be disposable, reusable, or recyclable. Containers shall be leak resistant, have tight-fitting covers, and be kept clean and in good repair. Containers may be recycled with the approval of the enforcement agency. Containers may be of any color and shall be labeled with the words "Biohazardous Waste" or with the international biohazard symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD" on the lid and on the sides so as to be visible from any lateral direction. Containers meeting the requirements specified in Section 66840 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, as it read on December 31, 1990, may also be used until the replacement of the containers is necessary or existing stock has been depleted. (c) Biohazardous waste shall not be removed from the biohazard bag until treatment as prescribed in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215) is completed, except to eliminate a safety hazard, or by the enforcement officer in performance of an investigation pursuant to Section 117820. Biohazardous waste shall not be disposed of before being treated as prescribed in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215). (d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (5), a person generating biohazardous waste shall comply with the following requirements: (A) If the person generates 20 or more pounds of biohazardous waste per month, the person shall not contain or store biohazardous or sharps waste above 0* Centigrade (32* Fahrenheit) at any onsite location for more than seven days without obtaining prior written approval of the enforcement agency. (B) If a person generates less than 20 pounds of biohazardous waste per month, the person shall not contain or store biohazardous waste above 0* Centigrade (32* Fahrenheit) at any onsite location for more than 30 days. (2) A person may store biohazardous or sharps waste at or below 0* Centigrade (32* Fahrenheit) at an onsite location for not more than 90 days without obtaining prior written approval of the enforcement agency. (3) A person may store biohazardous or sharps waste at a permitted transfer station at or below 0* Centigrade (32* Fahrenheit) for not more than 30 days without obtaining prior written approval of the enforcement agency. (4) A person shall not store biohazardous or sharps waste above 0* Centigrade (32* Fahrenheit) at any location or facility which is offsite from the generator for more than seven days before treatment.
(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, if the odor from biohazardous or sharps waste stored at a facility poses a nuisance, the enforcement agency may require more frequent removal. (e) Waste that meets the definition of biohazardous waste in subdivision (g) of Section 117635 shall not be subject to the limitations on storage time prescribed in subdivision (d). A person may store that biohazardous waste at an onsite location for not longer than 90 days without obtaining prior written approval from the enforcement agency or the department, except that persons generating not more than 10 pounds of that biohazardous waste per calendar year may store less than 10 pounds of the biohazardous waste at any onsite location for not longer than one year without obtaining prior written approval from the enforcement agency or the department. A person may store that biohazardous waste at a permitted transfer station for not longer than 30 days without obtaining prior written approval from the enforcement agency or the department. A person shall not store that biohazardous waste at any location or facility that is offsite from the generator for more than 30 days before treatment.
118285. To containerize sharps waste, a person shall do all of the following: (a) Place all sharps waste into a sharps container. (b) Tape closed or tightly lid full sharps containers ready for disposal to preclude loss of contents. (c) Store sharps containers ready for disposal for not more than seven days without the written approval of the enforcement agency. (d) Label sharps containers with the words "sharps waste" or with the international biohazard symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD".
118290. Any small quantity generator who has properly containerized the medical waste according to the requirements of this article may store the waste in a permitted common storage facility.
118295. A person shall thoroughly wash and decontaminate reusable rigid containers for medical waste by a method approved by the enforcement agency each time they are emptied, unless the surfaces of the containers have been completely protected from contamination by disposable liners, bags, or other devices removed with the waste. These containers shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner. Approved methods of decontamination include, but are not limited to, agitation to remove visible soil combined with one of the following procedures: (a) Exposure to hot water of at least 82* Centigrade (180* Fahrenheit) for a minimum of 15 seconds. (b) Exposure to chemical sanitizer by rinsing with, or immersion in, one of the following for a minimum of three minutes: (1) Hypochlorite solution (500 ppm available chlorine). (2) Phenolic solution (500 ppm active agent). (3) Iodoform solution (100 ppm available iodine). (4) Quaternary ammonium solution (400 ppm active agent).
118300. Any leak or spill of a medical waste by a medical waste generator, hazardous waste hauler, or treatment facility shall be decontaminated by procedures adopted by the department.
118305. A person shall not use reusable pails, drums, dumpsters, or bins used for medical waste for the containment of solid waste, or for other purposes, except after being decontaminated by the procedures specified in Section 118295 and removal of all medical waste labels.
118310. Any enclosure or designated accumulation area used for the storage of medical waste containers shall be secured so as to deny access to unauthorized persons and shall be marked with warning signs on, or adjacent to, the exterior of entry doors, gates, or lids. The storage area may be secured by use of locks on entry doors, gates, or receptacle lids. The wording of warning signs shall be in English, "CAUTION--BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA--UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT," and in Spanish, "CUIDADO--ZONA DE RESIDUOS--BIOLOGICOS PELIGROSOS--PROHIBIDA LA ENTRADA A PERSONAS NO AUTORIZADAS," or in another language, in addition to English, determined to be appropriate by the infection control staff or enforcement agency. A warning sign concerning infectious waste, as that term was defined by Section 25117.5 as it read on December 31, 1990, that sign having been installed before April 1, 1991, meets the requirements of this section, until the sign is changed and as long as the sign is not moved. Warning signs shall be readily legible during daylight from a distance of at least 25 feet. Any enclosure or designated accumulation area shall provide medical waste protection from animals and natural elements and shall not provide a breeding place or a food source for insects or rodents.
118315. A person shall not use a trash chute to transfer medical waste.
118320. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), compactors or grinders shall not be used to process medical waste until after the waste has been treated pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215) and rendered solid waste. (b) (1) Grinding or compacting may be used when it is an integral part of an alternative treatment method approved by the department. (2) A compactor may be used to compact medical waste if the type of medical waste compactor proposed to be used is evaluated by the department, and approved by the department prior to its use pursuant to the following criteria: (A) The compactor operates without the release of liquids or pathogenic microorganisms from the medical waste during placement of the medical waste into, or removal of the medical waste from, the compactor units, and during the compaction process. (B) The compacted medical waste will not release liquids or pathogens during any subsequent handling and no residual waste will be left in the compactor unit after the process is completed. (C) Compactor operations and maintenance personnel will not be at any substantial increased risk of exposure to pathogens. (D) The compactor has been demonstrated not to have any adverse effects on any treatment method. If only specific treatment methods are compatible with the compaction process, the department shall condition its approval of the compactor for use only in conjunction with treatment methods, with regard to which no adverse effects have been demonstrated. (c) Medical waste in bags or other containers shall not be subject to compaction by any compacting device and shall not be placed for storage or transport in a portable or mobile trash compactor, except as allowed pursuant to subdivision (b).
118321. (a) This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Trauma Scene Waste Management Act. (b) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that it is in the interests of the health and safety of the public and the solid waste industry to regulate the handling and treatment of waste that, but for contamination with large quantities of human blood or body fluids as a result of death, serious injury, or illness, would be solid waste. (c) The Legislature further finds and declares that, in the interest of safe and uniform management of trauma scene waste, practitioners of trauma scene management should be subject to regulation by the department.
118321.1. (a) A trauma scene waste management practitioner shall register with the department on forms provided by the department. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person who possessed a local business license as of January 1, 1997, and performs trauma scene waste management activities may continue to do so until April 1, 1998, subject to both of the following conditions: (1) The department has been notified of the trauma scene waste management activities. (2) Registration as a trauma scene waste management practitioner is completed on or before April 1, 1998. (c) The department shall register a trauma scene waste management practitioner and issue a trauma scene waste hauling permit to a trauma scene waste management practitioner who submits a completed application form and the registration fee, upon approval of the application by the department. (d) A registered trauma scene waste management practitioner is exempt from the registration requirements imposed pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 118025) or Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 25167.1) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20 upon haulers of medical waste. (e) Registered trauma scene waste management practitioners shall pay an annual fee of two hundred dollars ($200) to the department for deposit in the fund. The fee revenues deposited in the fund pursuant to this subdivision may be expended by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the implementation of this chapter.
118321.2. (a) The department shall maintain an inventory of registered trauma scene waste management practitioners. (b) The department shall submit a list of registered trauma scene waste management practitioners to all local agency health officers and directors of environmental health, county administrators, and county sheriffs, and shall make the list available, upon request, to other public agencies and to the public.
118321.3. (a) Notwithstanding Section 117650, the department shall be the sole enforcement agency with regard to the management of trauma scene waste. (b) The department, working with the trauma scene waste management industry and the health care industry, shall establish the following standards: (1) Documentation of personal protection required to be provided for, and used by, workers in accordance with the California Occupational and Safety Administration's bloodborne pathogen standards. (2) Technologies and chemicals appropriate to the task of cleanup and disinfecting. (c) The department may adopt regulations pursuant to which trauma scene waste management practitioners shall document both of the following: (1) Identification of trauma scene waste within the scope of this chapter. (2) Compliance with disposal requirements, including, but not limited to, tracking the transportation of trauma scene waste. (d) The department shall adopt procedures to provide information to trauma scene waste management practitioners recommending procedures for removing trauma scene waste from trauma scenes.
118321.4. As specified in Section 117705, a trauma scene waste management practitioner who transports trauma scene waste shall be deemed the generator of the trauma scene waste for purposes of this part.
118321.5. (a) Trauma scene waste shall be removed from the trauma scene immediately upon completion of the removal phase of a trauma scene waste removal operation. (b) Trauma scene waste shall be transported to a permitted medical waste transfer station or treatment facility pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 118000, or may be stored in a dedicated freezer at the business location of the trauma scene waste management practitioner for a period of not more than 14 days, or as otherwise approved by the department.
118321.6. (a) This chapter does not limit or abridge the jurisdiction of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Department of Industrial Relations. (b) This chapter does not prohibit a business from employing or contracting with a person to provide cleanup or consultative services, including those services provided by an industrial hygienist, with respect to trauma scene waste if those services are incidental to the principal course and scope of services provided by the person.
118325. An enforcement agency, district attorney, city attorney, or city prosecutor may bring an action to enjoin the violation, or threatened violation, of this part or the regulations adopted pursuant to this part, in the superior court in the county where the violation occurred or is about to occur. Any proceeding under this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that the enforcement agency, district attorney, city attorney, or city prosecutor is not required to allege facts necessary to show or tending to show the lack of an adequate remedy at law or irreparable damage or loss. With respect to any action brought pursuant to this section alleging actual violation of this part or the regulations adopted pursuant to this part, the court shall, if it finds the allegations to be true, issue its order enjoining the continuance of the violation.
118330. Whenever the enforcement agency determines that a violation or threatened violation of this part or the regulations adopted pursuant to this part has resulted, or is likely to result, in a release of medical waste into the environment, the agency may issue an order to the responsible person specifying a schedule for compliance or imposing an administrative penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation. Any person who, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, violates an order issued pursuant to this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. The department shall adopt regulations that specify the requirements for providing notice to persons to whom orders are issued and for administrative hearings and fines concerning these orders.
118335. (a) In order to carry out the purpose of this part, any authorized representative of the enforcement agency may do any of the following: (1) Enter and inspect a facility for which a medical waste permit or registration has been issued, for which a medical waste permit or registration application has been filed, or that is subject to registration or permitting requirements pursuant to this part. Enter and inspect a vehicle for which a hazardous waste hauler registration has been issued or a limited-quantity exemption granted, for which an application has been filed for a hazardous waste hauler registration or a limited-quantity exemption, or that is subject to registration requirements pursuant to this part. (2) Inspect and copy any records, reports, test results, or other information related to the requirements of this part or the regulations adopted pursuant to this part. (b) The inspection shall be made with the consent of the owner or possessor of the facilities or, if consent is refused, with a warrant duly issued pursuant to Title 13 (commencing with Section 1822.50) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. However, in the event of an emergency affecting the public health or safety, an inspection may be made without consent or the issuance of a warrant. (c) Any traffic officer, as defined in Section 625 of the Vehicle Code, and any peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1 or 830.2 of the Penal Code, may enforce Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 118000) and this chapter, and for purposes of enforcing these chapters, traffic officers and these peace officers are authorized representatives of the department.
118340. (a) No person shall, transport, store, treat, dispose, or cause the treatment or disposal of medical waste in a manner not authorized by his or her permit or registration, this part, or the regulations adopted pursuant to this part. (b) Any person who stores, treats, disposes, or causes the treatment or disposal of medical waste in violation of this part or the regulations adopted pursuant to this part is guilty of a public offense as follows: (1) For a small quantity generator, a first offense is an infraction and is punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). (2) For a person other than a small quantity generator, a first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by up to one year in county jail, or by both the fine and imprisonment. (c) A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of subdivision (a) within three years of the prior conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment in state prison for one, two, or three years or by a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. This section shall not apply unless any prior conviction is charged in the accusatory pleading and admitted by the defendant or found to be true by the trier of fact. If the defendant is a corporation that operates medical facilities in more than one geographic location, this subdivision shall apply only if the offense involves an adjacent facility involved in the prior conviction. (d) Any person who knowingly treats or disposes, or causes the treatment or disposal of, medical waste in violation of this part shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment in the state prison for one, two, or three years, or by a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. (e) This section does not apply to a person transporting medical waste who is required to be a registered hazardous waste transporter. Those persons are subject to penalties for violations pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 25180) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20.
118345. (a) Any person who intentionally makes any false statement or representation in any application, label, tracking document, record, report, permit, registration, or other document filed, maintained, or used for purposes of compliance with this part that materially affects the health and safety of the public is liable for a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each separate violation or, for continuing violations, for each day that the violation continues. (b) Any person who fails to register or fails to obtain a medical waste permit in violation of this part, or otherwise violates any provision of this part, any order issued pursuant to Section 118330, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this part, is liable for a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation of a separate provision of this part or, for continuing violations, for each day that the violation continues.
118350. The enforcement agency may suspend, amend, or revoke any medical waste permit issued by the enforcement agency for any of the following reasons: (a) Violation by the permittee of any of the provisions of this part or any regulation adopted pursuant to this part. (b) Violation of any term or condition of the permit. (c) Aiding, abetting, or permitting the violation specified in subdivision (a) or (b) or interference in the performance of the duty of the enforcement officer. (d) Proof that the permittee has intentionally made false statements, or failed to disclose fully all relevant facts, in any material regard, on the application for a medical waste permit. (e) The conviction of a permittee, or the person in charge of the activity subject to the medical waste permit, of any crime that is substantially related to the qualifications or duties of the permittee or the person in charge of the activity, or that is substantially related to the functions that are subject to the medical waste permit. For purposes of this section, a conviction means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. An action to revoke or suspend the medical waste permit may be taken when the time for appeal has elapsed or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal. That action may also be taken when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, notwithstanding any subsequent order pursuant to Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code. The enforcement agency shall take into account all competent evidence of rehabilitation furnished by the permittee or person in charge of the permitted activity. (f) A change in any condition that requires either a temporary or permanent modification, reduction, or termination of the permitted operation to bring it into compliance with the requirements of this part and the regulations adopted pursuant to this part.
118355. Proceedings conducted by the department for the suspension or revocation of a medical waste permit shall commence with the filing of any accusation and shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the department shall have all the powers granted to a department in that chapter.
118360. The enforcement agency may temporarily suspend a medical waste permit prior to any hearing, when it has determined that this action is necessary to protect the public welfare. The enforcement agency shall notify the permittee of the temporary suspension and the effective date thereof and, at the same time, shall serve the permittee with an accusation. Upon receipt of a notice of defense by the permittee, the matter shall, within 15 days, be set for hearing. The hearing shall be held as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after receipt of the notice. The temporary suspension shall remain in effect until the hearing is completed and the enforcement agency has made a final determination on the merits. However, the temporary suspension is vacated if the enforcement agency fails to make a final determination on the merits within 60 days after the original hearing has been completed.
EFFECTIVE USE OF THE AUTOCLAVE
The application of heat, either moist or dry, is recommended as the most effective method of sterilization. Steam at 121øC (250øF) under pressure in the autoclave is the most convenient method of rapidly achieving sterility. Sterility is not guaranteed by the machine merely reaching this temperature, because many variables influence whether materials inside such as labware, reagents and waste are sterilized. The autoclave should be monitored to insure that the methods used are resulting in sterilization of materials. Two methods of monitoring exist, chemical and biological. Chemical, although adequate for routine daily monitoring, is not considered an acceptable definitive test. Challenging an autoclave with a biological indicator is the current accepted method of testing. This is done with spores, usually Bacillus Stearothermophilus, which can survive 250øF for 13 minutes. These microorganisms are more resistant to temperature than most and thus provide an adequate safety margin when validating sterilization procedures.
The following information has been compiled from manufacturer's recommendations, the literature and local testing. Many sizes and types of autoclaves exist at the University, therefore, no one set of conditions will be valid for every laboratory. It is important to review individual laboratory procedures in the light of the information presented here and verify the effectiveness of your procedures with biological indicators.
Ideally, the autoclave should be available on the same floor on which the laboratory is located. Materials should be carried to the autoclave in a sealed leakproof container.
A. COMMONLY USED AUTOCLAVABLE CONTAINERS
1. Polypropylene containers 5 and 12 gallon (tall) and sterilizing pans (shallow).
2. Metal pails or pans (stainless steel).
3. Polypropylene bags (frequently referred to as biohazards or autoclavable bags).
4. Glass containers (flasks, bottles).
5. Heavy waxed paper bags.
Metal (Stainless Steel)
Stainless steel is a good conductor of heat and is least likely to increase sterilizing time. Where containment of waste is mandatory and available autoclaving time is limited, metal containers are the best choice. The high cost of metal containers is a drawback to their use.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is an inexpensive resin which can withstand autoclaving temperatures. Polypropylene containers are available in a variety of shapes and forms including pans and bags. The bags must be opened to allow steam to penetrate and should have water placed in the bottom to facilitate heat transfer to the items being sterilized.
Glass
Glass must be of the Pyrex type to be autoclaved. It may still break when the autoclave door is opened. The door should be released slightly to allow heat to escape and the material should be allowed to cool approximately 10 minutes prior to removal.
B. AUTOCLAVING SUGGESTIONS
It is impossible to list fixed autoclaving times due to the variability of autoclaving conditions. However, two recommendations can be made.
1. Test autoclave procedures with a biological indicator. This should be repeated at regular intervals. The autoclave should be monitored in the following manner:
a. Biological Monitoring - Weekly, using a reliable spore test system.
b. Mechanical Monitoring - Each run should be monitored for temperature, time and pressure.
c. Chemical Monitoring - Chemical monitors should be used in each run.
2. Autoclave waste materials for at least 30 minutes, after the autoclave has reached the required temperature. It may take over 30 minutes to get to 121øC if the load is heavy. Most tests have established 30 minutes as a minimum time. The EPA has given the following specifications for treatment of infectious waste:
Appendix VII - Infectious Waste - Treatment Specifications
Infectious waste from departments of health care facilities as defined by the EPA in the Federal Register in Vol. 43, No. 243, Monday December 13, 1978 may be rendered nonhazardous by subjecting the waste to the following autoclave temperatures and dwell times:
Steam Autoclave
a. Trash: 250øF (121øC) for 1 hour with 15 minutes prevacuum of 27 inches Hg.
b. Glassware: 250øF (121øC) for 1 hour with 15 minutes prevacuum of 27 inches Hg. for filled NIH Glassware can.
c. Liquids: 250øF (121øC) for 1 hour for each gallon.
d. Animals: 250øF (121øC) for 8 hours with 15 minutes prevacuum of 27 inches Hg.
e. Animal Bedding: 250øF (121øC) for 8 hours with 15 minutes prevacuum of 27 inches Hg. or equivalent treatment methods such as gas sterilization or pathological incineration. Temperatures and dwell time will vary in relation to the volume of material, moisture content and other factors.
Federal Register in Vol. 43, No. 243, Monday December 13, 1978
In order to establish autoclaving time guidelines, a number of loads of waste material were autoclaved using a variety of conditions. The following autoclaving times are suggested:
ø Low-sided polypropylene pans/basins with bags « filled and loosely gathered - minimum 30 minutes.
ø Low-sided polypropylene pans/basins with bag tightly closed - more than 60 minutes.
ø 6 and 12 gallon polypropylene (tall) containers without lids, bag open and « full - more than 90 minutes.
ø Metal pails with bags loosely gathered, « full, lid off - 30 minutes.
ø Metal pails with lid on - 45 minutes
PLEASE NOTE THESE RESULTS ARE NOT DEFINITIVE. THEY ARE INCLUDED TO GIVE AN INDICATION OF REALISTIC TIMES WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO STERILIZE WASTE PRODUCTS.
Operation Log for the Autoclaving of Medical Waste
