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Describe requirements for the containment, storage, treatment, and
disposal of clinical waste
Level
3
Credits
5
Purpose
This unit standard is for people working in the specialist area of hazardous
substance resource recovery and waste disposal.
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe requirements for:
the containment and storage of clinical waste; and the treatment and disposal
of clinical waste.
Subfield
Solid Waste
Domain
Hazardous and Special Waste Management
Status
Registered
Status date
25 October 2007
Date version published
25 October 2007
Planned review date
31 December 2012
Entry information
Recommended: Unit 23336, Demonstrate general
knowledge of clinical waste management, or
demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated)
(MITO)
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0114
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
References relevant to this unit standard include:
Local Government Act 2002;
Resource Management Act 1991;
Hazardous Substances (Classes 6, 8, and 9 Controls) Regulations 2001;
Hazardous Substances (Classifications) Regulations 2001;
Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Regulations 2001;
Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Regulations 2001;
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Radiation Protection Regulations 1982;
NZS 4304:2002 Management of Healthcare Waste available at
http://www.standards.co.nz;
NZS 5433:1999 Transport of Dangerous Goods on Land;
Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Substances Hazardous to Health
in the Place of Work, Occupational Safety and Health Service, available at
www.osh.govt.nz (MOSSH);
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code 2002 International Maritime
Organisation available at http://www.imo.org;
Code of Practice for the Management of Clinical and Related Wastes 2004 Australian
and New Zealand Clinical Waste Management Industry Group available at
http://www.wmaa.asn.au (the Code of Practice);
The New Zealand Waste Strategy Ministry for the Environment, available at
http://www.mfe.govt.nz;
local authority bylaws.
2
Definitions
Clinical waste refers to hazardous and controlled waste that is recognizable as
coming from a healthcare or similar facility for the care or diagnosis of patients. It
may be contaminated or soiled with potentially infectious animal body fluids, or may
be considered culturally or aesthetically offensive. Such waste may require
pretreatment before disposal at a landfill.
Company procedures means the documented methods for performing work activities
and include health and safety, environmental, and quality management requirements.
They may refer to manuals, codes of practice, or policy statements.
UN Number refers to United Nations four-digit numbers used worldwide in
international commerce and transportation to identify hazardous chemicals or classes
of hazardous materials in shipment.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Describe requirements for the containment and storage of clinical waste.
Performance criteria
1.1
Recommendations for warnings on containers for clinical waste are described in
accordance with NZS 4304:2002 and the Code of Practice.
1.2
Segregation requirements for clinical waste are identified and explained in
accordance with NZS 4304:2002 and the Code of Practice.
1.3
Packaging requirements for clinical waste are identified and explained in
accordance with the Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Regulations 2001,
NZS 4304:2002, and the Code of Practice.
1.4
Labelling requirements for clinical waste are identified in accordance with NZS
4304:2002 and NZS 5433:1999.
Range
infectious, cytotoxic, radioactive, one other.
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1.5
General storage requirements for clinical waste are identified and described in
accordance with the Code of Practice.
Range
1.6
location, access, security, spill containment, containers,
licence/certification.
Additional requirements for the storage of clinical waste are identified and
described in accordance with the Code of Practice.
Range
includes but is not limited to – construction specifications, loading
and unloading, spill kits, trade waste disposal, hiring of temporary
containers, odours, security.
Element 2
Describe requirements for the treatment and disposal of clinical waste.
Performance criteria
2.1
Restrictions on the disposal of clinical waste are described consistent with The
New Zealand Waste Strategy and the Hazardous Substances (Disposal)
Regulations 2001.
Range
includes but is not limited to – landfill, incineration.
2.2
Consent requirements for clinical waste facilities are described in terms of
bylaws.
2.3
Treatment methods for clinical waste are described in accordance with the
Code of Practice and company procedures.
Range
2.4
Pretreatment and disposal methods for substances of clinical waste are
described in accordance with the Code of Practice and company procedures.
Range
2.5
four of – incineration, autoclave, grinding, electro thermal
deactivation, alkaline oxidation, microwave disinfection, thermal
treatment technology.
pretreatment – compaction, maceration, sterilization, grinding,
recycling, cremation;
disposal methods – incineration, landfill, sanitary landfill, sewer,
composting;
substances of clinical waste – sharps, infectious, cytotoxic,
radioactive, one other;
disposal – local, national, international.
Monitoring requirements for the treatment and disposal of clinical waste are
explained in accordance with the Code of Practice.
Range
includes but is not limited to – materials, processes, discharges,
employee health, workplace safety, independent agent.
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2.6
Tests and sampling requirements for the treatment and disposal of clinical
waste are described in accordance with NZS 4304:2002, the Code of Practice,
and company procedures.
Range
2.7
Documentation requirements for the treatment and disposal of clinical wastes
are described in accordance with NZS 4304:2002, the Code of Practice, and
company procedures.
Range
2.8
tests include but are not limited to – calibration, equipment,
product, process, employee health, regular, random, microbial.
includes but is not limited to – test results, operational records,
process records, employee health, safety, emissions,
emergencies.
Information to be documented by treatment companies is described in
accordance with NZS 4304:2002 and the Code of Practice.
Range
includes but is not limited to documentation relating to –
segregation, exclusion, generation.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO) info@mito.org.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016