Biohazard waste is any item that contains or may contain infectious diseases or the ability to transmit infectious diseases. While many biohazard items are generated in medical facilities, they are also generated in any facility that deals with human or animal body fluids or parts as well as laboratories. There are strict state and federal guidelines established on defining each biohazard type, how each is handled and stored, as well as the procedures required to render it harmless for ultimate disposal.
Biohazard Categories:
The first step in disposal is to identify the type of biohazard waste. There are four biohazard waste categories and each one requires specific handling, storage, and disposal:
Liquid Biohazard Waste: This waste is any quantity of liquid that is more than 25 mls that is made up of blood, blood products, and body fluids. Quantities less than 25 mls is approved to be delt with as solid biohazard waste.
Solid Biohazard Waste: This is any non-sharp item that is contaminated or potentially contaminated with human or animal blood, tissue, or body fluids. Examples of solid biohazard waste can include but are not limited to culture containers, gloves, some PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), specimen vials, and towels.
Biohazard Sharps: This is any item that could pierce the skin and either contains or may contain biological material that could transmit disease. Examples of sharps can include but are not limited to hypodermic needles, knives, scalpels, microscope slides, broken glass or plastic, broken tubes, pipettes.
Pathological Waste: Any human or animal unfixed body parts, organs, and tissues (with the exclusion of human teeth) that may contain potentially transmittable diseases due to exposure.
Biohazard Disposal Procedures:
While each state is responsible for supplying the strict guidelines for the disposal of biohazard waste, there are some common procedures that are shared with most states. All states work in conjunction with many federal agencies for compliance procedures.
Use any necessary Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) such as face masks or nitrile gloves when in the vicinity of or handling biohazard waste.
Put the biohazard waste in the specific container designated for that type of biohazard waste. Most containers are designated by color and contain the universal biohazard waste logo. In most states there is also the use of red or yellow biohazard bags for additional containment which also have the biohazard label.
Once the containers are ready to be stored or picked up, make sure that the biohazard label is on the container and all other labeling that may be required for that state.
Store the containers in a temperature regulated, safe location away from anyone by authorized personnel so that the containers can be picked up by a licensed, certified, and trained medical waste disposal company. Each state may have a specific time limit for storage.
The licensed medical waste disposal company will pickup the biohazard waste for transport to the licensed facility for destruction. The type of destruction will depend upon the type of biohazard waste and typically includes incineration, autoclaving, or in some cases microwave, irradiation, or chemical treatments.
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