what constitutes medical waste?......

[Guest guest]

See parts highlighted in red-who knows if it varies state to state. I do

have a call into NC OSHA... I need to find out for several reasons..1)

don't want to get a fine from our trash people and 2) if the home health

company keeps getting picky about the number of Sharps containers we use, I

can tell them exactly why we have to use to many.

Biohazardous Waste

At Michigan State University the term biohazardous waste is used to describe

different types of waste that might include infectious agents. Generally

speaking, infectious agents are classified in four risk groups with risk

group 1 being of no or very low risk and risk group 4 being of high risk to

the individual and the community. With the exception of risk group 4, all

others are used at MSU (predominantly risk group 1 and 2 agents).

To provide for a safe work environment, all infectious agents need to be

handled at a certain containment or biosafety level depending on: virulence,

pathogenicity, stability, route of spread, communicability, operation(s),

quantity, and availability of vaccines or treatment. The applicable

biosafety level not only defines the general handling procedures, but also

the treatment of biohazardous waste. Under normal circumstances, a risk

group 2 agent requires biosafety level 2 containment and biohazardous waste

procedures. Nevertheless, if a risk group 2 agent is grown in mass

quantities, biosafety level 3 containment is necessary.

Please refer to the most recent editions of the CDC/NIH Biosafety in

Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, the NIH Guidelines for Research

Involving Recombinant DNA, or the ORCBS Biosafety training for a

comprehensive discussion on this matter.

Currently, the following waste categories are considered to be biohazardous

waste.

* Medical waste, which means any solid waste which is generated in the

diagnosis, treatment (e.g., provision of medical services), or immunization

of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the

production or testing of biologicals, as well as all categories defined by

the Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory Act (MMWRA).

* Regulated waste as defined by the Michigan Occupational Safety and

Health Act (MIOSHA) on Bloodborne Infectious Diseases.

* Laboratory waste and regulated waste as defined in the " Guidelines

For Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules " (NIH) and the CDC/NIH

" Guidelines on Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories " .

According to the MMWRA, Medical Waste includes:

* Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals,

including laboratory waste, biological production wastes, discarded live and

attenuated vaccines, culture dishes, and related devices;

* Liquid human and animal waste, including blood, blood products and

body fluids, but not including urine or materials stained with blood or body

fluids;

* Pathological waste, which means human organs, tissues, body parts

other than teeth, products of conception, and fluids removed by trauma or

during surgery or autopsy or other medical procedure, and not fixed in

formaldehyde;

* Sharps, which means needles, syringes, scalpels, and intravenous

tubing with needles attached, independent of whether they are contaminated

or not;

* Contaminated wastes from animals that have been exposed to agents

infectious to humans, these being primarily research animals;

In addition, the MIOSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard regulates the following

waste:

* liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious

materials;

* contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially

infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed;

* items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially

infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during

handling;

* contaminated sharps which includes any contaminated object that can

penetrate;

* pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other

potentially infectious materials.

The CDC/NIH Biosafety Guidelines cover contaminated waste that is

potentially infectious or hazardous for humans and animals. The same is true

for the NIH Guidelines on recombinant DNA which also includes contaminated

waste potentially infectious or hazardous for plants.

General Labeling, Packaging and Disposal Procedures

Currently, biohazardous waste is to be decontaminated before leaving MSU.

Most of the waste can be autoclaved prior to disposal, while some waste will

be incinerated. The responsibility for decontamination and proper disposal

of biohazardous waste lies with the producing facility (e.g., laboratory and

department). The ORCBS and ULAR assists only in the disposal of sharps and

pathological waste including animal carcasses.

All biohazardous waste needs to be packaged, contained and located in a way

that protects and prevents the waste from release at any time at the

producing facility prior to ultimate disposal. If storage is necessary,

putrefaction and the release of infectious agents in the air must be

prevented.No biohazardous waste can be stored for more than 90 days.

If not stated otherwise (see below), most biohazardous waste will be

disposed of in biohazard bags. Currently, MSU requires the use of orange

biohazard bags that include the biohazard symbol and a built-in heat

indicator with the word ( " AUTOCLAVED " ). Bags that meet these requirements

are available in various sizes at general stores and biochemistry stores.

All waste disposed of in these bags is to be autoclaved until the waste is

decontaminated. The built-in heat indicator will turn dark. For specific

autoclave procedures please contact the ORCBS. All autoclaves used for the

decontamination of biohazardous waste will be tested by the ORCBS at least

on an annual basis. Please contact our office for more information. After

successful autoclaving (decontamination), all biohazard bags need to be

placed in opaque (black) plastic non-biohazard bags that are leakproof.

These opaque bags can be put in the lodal or picked up by custodial

services. Biohazardous waste that is decontaminated is no longer considered

hazardous and the biohazard symbol needs to be removed or the waste labeled

as decontaminated (e.g., " AUTOCLAVED " Heat Indicator).

Peace Be With You,

~Pattie~

" What matters is not great deeds, but great love. " ~ St. Therese of Lisieux

Family website: www.shwachman.50megs.com