Identifying,
packaging, and
documenting
biomedical waste
Government regulations for medical waste
include strict rules for handling,
packaging, sealing and labeling, as well
as documenting their transfer and
disposal. Federal regulations state: All
waste shall be removed in such a manner
as to avoid creating a menace to health
and as often as necessary or appropriate
to maintain the place of employment in a
sanitary condition. To help assure your
compliance, DaRob has designed a total
system of packaging and documentation.
We offer a complete range of authorized
packaging for every classification of
biomedical waste, along with the forms
and record keeping systems that make it
easy and convenient for you to track and
verify the disposal of every ounce of waste
generated by your operation.
Defining and separating biomedical waste
For easy reference, match the medical waste identifications below with the
general categories and packaging types to the left to determine how to handle
and package each type.
(1) Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals,
including cultures from medical and pathological laboratories, cultures and
stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories, wastes
from the production of biologicals, discarded live and attenuated vaccines, and
culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures.
(2) Pathological wastes, including tissues, organs, and body parts that are
removed during surgery or autopsy; sponges, drapes, underpads or other items
if soaked with fluid.
(3) Waste human blood and products of blood, including serum, plasma, and
other blood components.
(4) Sharps that have been used in-patient care or in medical, research, or
industrial, including hypodermic needles, syringes, pasteur pipettes, broken
glass, and scalpel blades.
(5) Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, and bedding of animals that
were exposed to infectious agents during research, production of biologicals, or
testing of pharmaceuticals.
(6) Wastes from surgery or autopsy that were in contact with infectious agents,
including soiled dressings, sponges, drapes, lavage tubes, drainage sets,
underpads, and surgical gloves.*
(7) Laboratory wastes from medical, pathological, pharmaceutical, or other
research, commercial, or industrial laboratories that were in contact with
infectious agents, including slides and cover slips, disposable gloves, laboratory
coats, and aprons.
(8) Dialysis wastes that were in contact with the blood of patients undergoing
hemodialysis, including contaminated disposable equipment and supplies such
as tubing, filters, disposable sheets, towels, gloves, aprons, and laboratory
coats.*
(9) Discarded medical equipment and parts that were in contact with infectious
agents.*
(10) Biological waste such as blood, excretion, exudates or secretion from
human beings or animals who are isolated to protect others from
communicable diseases.*
(11) Discarded materials contaminated with blood, excretion, exudates or
secretion from human beings or animals who are isolated to protect others from
communicable diseases.*
(12) Such other waste material that results from the administration of medical
care to a patient by a health care provider and is found by the Administrator to
pose a threat to human health or the environment.*
*Under current regulations (June '89) these items are governed by biomedical
waste packaging and disposal procedures at the option of the administrator or
generating facility manager.
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Packaging Category
B
Solid &
Pathological
Waste Container
1
x
2
x
Documenting biomedical
waste disposal
L
Liquid Waste
(greater than 20 cc)
Container
x
3
x
4
5
x
6
x
7
x
x
8
9
x
x
10
11
S
Sharps
Container
x
12
Descriptions of interior and exterior containers
>> Interior container B (red bags) is a red plastic bag, with a mil
strength adequate for an inner liner, with a capacity to fit the outer
container.
>> Interior container L (rigid liquid) is a rigid clear plastic container,
with sealable cap for liquid, available in varied sizes.
>> Interior container S (rigid sharps) is a rigid plastic container for
sharps and needles, available in several sizes.
>> Exterior container A is red plastic reusable box or drum, in
30-gallon and 40-gallon capacity.
Packaging procedures
All biomedical wastes must be double packaged at a minimum. After
filling appropriate inner containers/liners, seal them securely by tying
or taping the red bags shut. Then if not currently in a shipping
container, place carefully into the exterior shipping container, and seal
it securely with the top or lid specified for that container. Different
categories of inner packages may be placed in the same exterior
package as long as no chemotherapy waste is present.
Containers should be placed as close as possible to where biomedical
wastes are generated so there is minimal handling of unpackaged
waste.
The Medical Waste Tracking
Form System
Use the four part tracking forms from DaRob,
Inc., fill in all required information on the left
of the form as "generator", the facility that
generates biomedical waste. DaRob is the
destination facility and, if you are utilizing
DaRob's transportation services, we are also
the transporter: As such, we will complete the
information on the right hand side of the form.
The USDOT has included Regulated Medical
Waste in the Hazardous Materials Tracking
Act. This regulation affects all generators of
medical waste with additional tracking
requirements, training specifications, and
further packaging requirements. Contact us for
the updated materials you may need.
Record Keeping
Establish a file system using the DaRob file
folder. Each time you prepare containers for
shipment and create a tracking form, file Part
4 for your records. Once your shipment has
been received by DaRob and your biomedical
waste has been treated, DaRob will return Part
I for your files verifying the fact that your
materials have been received and destroyed.
This provides you complete protection, under
the law and assurance that your biomedical
wastes have been properly handled in
complete compliance.
For more information, please contact us.
Darob, Incorporated
P.O. Box 99085
1801 Research Drive
Louisville, KY 40269
T 502-491-1535 or 1-877-MDWASTE
F 502-491-2264
W www.darobinc.com
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