Medical Waste Management

MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
WELCOME
Medical Waste Management 1/ 60 © Copyright Training 4 Today 2000 Published by EnvironWin Software LLC.
OBJECTIVES
 Define Medical Waste, Regulated Medical Waste and
Infectious Waste.
 Discuss the Regulations Applicable to Medical Waste.
 Discuss the Components of an Infectious Waste Management
Plan.
 Outline an Exposure Control Plan.
 Discuss Steps to take if Exposed to Infectious Waste.
 Discuss the Problem of Mercury.
 Discuss Records to Maintain.
 Recommend Inspection Items.
GOALS
 Understand the Definition of Medical Waste, Regulated Medical

Waste, and Infectious Waste.
 Understand Why Medical Waste Compliance is Important.
 Understand the Components of an Infectious Waste Management
Plan.
 Be Familiar With Your Facilities Exposure Control Plan.
 Understand the Steps to Take if Exposed to Infectious Waste.
 Understand the Problem of Mercury.
 Be Familiar With Records to Maintain.
WHAT IS A MEDICAL WASTE?
Definition of Medical Waste

Medical waste includes all infectious
waste, hazardous (including low-
level radioactive wastes), and any
other wastes that are generated
from all types of health care
institutions, including hospitals,
clinics, doctor’s (including dental and
veterinary) offices and medical
laboratories.
WHAT IS A REGULATED MEDICAL
WASTE?
Definition of Regulated Medical Waste
Regulated Medical Waste is a subset of all medical
wastes and include seven distinct categories:
1. Cultures and stocks of infectious agents.
2. Human pathological wastes (e.g. tissues, body parts)
3. Human blood and blood products
4. Sharps (e.g. hypodermic needles and syringes)
5. Certain animal wastes
6. Certain isolation wastes (e.g. wastes from patients
with highly communicable diseases)
7. Unused sharps.
WHAT IS AN INFECTIOUS
WASTE?
Infectious wastes were categorized into the following
seven categories:
1. Isolation wastes – wastes generated by hospitalized
patients who are isolated to protect others from
communicable diseases.
2. Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and
associated biologicals – this category includes:
- Specimens from medical and biological laboratories
- Cultures and stocks of infectious agents from
clinical, research, and industrial laboratories
3. Human blood and blood products – this includes
waste blood, serum, plasma, and blood products.
WHAT IS AN INFECTIOUS
WASTE?
4. Pathological waste – tissues, organs, body parts,
blood, and body fluids.
5. Contaminated sharps – contaminated hypodermic
needles, syringes, scalpel blades, Pasteur pipettes, and
broken glass.
6. Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, and
animal bedding
7. Miscellaneous Contaminated Wastes – these include:
- Wastes from surgery and autopsy
- Miscellaneous laboratory wastes
- Dialysis unit wastes
- Contaminated equipment
INFECTIOUS WASTE
MANAGEMENT PLANS
Components of an Infectious Waste Management Plan:

1. Designation of the waste that should be managed as infectious
2. Segregation of infectious waste from the noninfectious waste
3. Packaging
4. Storage
5. Treatment
6. Disposal
7. Contingency measures for emergency situations
8. Staff training
DESIGNATION OF AN INFECTIOUS
WASTE
The infectious waste plan for your

facility should specify which wastes
are to be managed as infectious
wastes. The previous slides in this
course can help determine what
should be included. A responsible
official or committee should
determine any other miscellaneous
wastes should be handled as an
infectious waste.
SEGREGATING MEDICAL
WASTES
 Segregation of infectious wastes at
the point of origin.
 Segregation of infectious waste with
multiple hazards as necessary for
management and treatment.
 Use of distinctive, clearly marked
containers or plastic bags for
infectious wastes.
 Use of the universal biological
hazard symbol on infectious waste
containers as appropriate.
SEGREGATING MEDICAL
WASTES
 Whenever possible, do not combine
medical waste with hazardous chemicals
or radioactive waste.
 Separate sharps waste from other
medical wastes. Sharps should be
stored in puncture-proof containers.
 Separate pathology wastes from other
medical wastes.
 Separate chemotherapy wastes from
other medical wastes.
SEGREGATING MEDICAL
WASTES
If different types of waste are mixed, treat mixtures as
follows:
 Mixtures of medical and radioactive waste --
decontaminate the biohazardous component and manage
as radioactive waste.
 Mixtures of medical and hazardous chemical waste -- if
safe to do so, decontaminate the biohazardous
component and manage as chemical waste.
 Mixtures of medical, radioactive, and hazardous
chemical waste -- if safe to do so, decontaminate the
biohazardous component and manage as radioactive
waste.
PACKAGING INFECTIOUS WASTE
 Selection of packaging materials that are appropriate

for the type of waste handled:
- Plastic bags for many types of solid or semisolid
infectious waste.
- Bottles, flasks, or tanks for liquids.
 Use of packaging that maintains its integrity during
storage and transport,
 Closing the top of each bag by folding or tying as
appropriate for the treatment or transport
 Place liquid wastes in capped/ tightly stopped bottles.
 Do not compact infectious wastes before treatment.
HANDLING SHARPS
 Each year there are some 600,000 incidents where

people are accidentally stuck by needles and sharps.
 The most common times of risk for spreading
bloodborne pathogens occurs:
– Recapping needles
– Failing to dispose of used needles properly in puncture-
resistant sharps containers
– Accidental breakage of the tubes used for collection of blood
in a variety of health care settings. There are an estimated
2,800 injuries from these glass capillary tube breakage every
year.
HANDLING SHARPS
To protect against needlestick injuries, take the

following precautions:
 Avoid the use of needles where safe and effective
alternatives are available.
 Help your employer select and evaluate devices with
safety features that reduce the risk of needlestick injury.
 Use devices with safety features provided by your
employer.
 Avoid recapping needles.
 Plan for safe handling and disposal of needles before
using them.
HANDLING SHARPS
 Promptly dispose of used needles in

appropriate sharps disposal containers.
 Report all needlestick and sharps-related
injuries promptly to ensure that you receive
appropriate followup care.
 Tell your employer about any needlestick
hazards you observe.
 Participate in training related to infection
prevention.
 Get a hepatitis B vaccination.
PACKAGING OF SHARPS
 Containers are rigid puncture-resistant containers

that, when sealed, are leak resistant and cannot be
reopened without great difficulty.
 Must be red in color, have a biohazard label, be
accessible to employees, and be located as close as
feasible to the immediate area where sharps are used.
 Must remain upright throughout use and be replaced
routinely. Should not be overfilled to present a hazard.
 Containers of contaminated sharps will be closed
immediately.
 Secondary containers must be closable and prevent
leakage during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.
STORAGE
Storage temperature and duration are important

considerations. Warmer temperatures cause higher
rates of microbial growth and putrefaction, resulting in
odor problems. EPA recommends:
 Locating the storage area near the treatment site.
 Minimizing storage time.
 Proper packing that ensures containment of
infectious waste and the exclusion of rodents and
vermin.
 Limited access to storage areas.
 Prominently displaying the universal biological hazard
symbol on storage area door, waste containers, etc.
TRANSPORT
 Avoidance of mechanical loading devices that may

rupture packaged wastes.
 Frequent disinfection of carts used to transfer wastes
within the facility.
 Placement of all infectious waste into rigid or semi-
rigid containers before transport off site.
 Transport of infectious waste in closed leakproof
trucks or dumpsters.
 Use of appropriate hazard symbols in accordance
with local, state and federal regulations.
ON-SITE TREATMENT
There are several methods that have been successful in

the treatment of infectious waste. The following slides
will discuss treatment that may be available at your
facility. The methods discussed are:
1. Autoclaving (steam sterilization)
2. Incineration
3. Thermal inactivation
4. Gas/Vapor Sterilization
5. Chemical Disinfection
6. Sterilization by irradiation (radiofrequency and
microwave)
AUTOCLAVING
 Autoclaving (heating under high pressure) is widely

accepted as an effective medical waste treatment
technology.
 Steam sterilization, autoclaving, involves the use of
saturated steam within a pressure vessel at
temperatures high enough to kill infectious agents in the
waste. Sterilization is accomplished primarily by steam
penetration.
 Steam sterilization is most effective with low-density
material such as plastics, metal pans (panci), bottles,
and flasks. High-density polyethylene and
polypropylene plastic should not be used in this process
because they do not facilitate steam penetration to the
waste load.
AUTOCLAVING
 Plastic bags should be placed in a rigid container

before steam treatment to prevent spillage and drain
clogging.
 Bags should be opened and caps and stoppers
should be loosened immediately before they are place
in the steam sterilizer.
 Care should be taken to separate infectious wastes
from other hazardous wastes.
 Infectious waste that contains noninfectious hazards
should not be steam-sterilized.
 Waste that contains antineoplastic drugs, toxic
chemicals, or chemicals that would be volatilized by
steam should not be steam-sterilized.
AUTOCLAVING
 Persons involved in steam sterilizing should be trained in

handling techniques to minimize exposure to hazards from
these wastes. These should include:
•Use of protective equipment
•Minimization of aerosol formation
•Prevention of spillage during autoclave loading/unloading
•Prevention of burns from handling hot containers
•Management of spills
 Check autoclave temperature to ensure that the proper
temperature is being maintained for a long enough period
during the cycle.
Steam sterilizers should be routinely inspected.
INCINERATION
Newly Regulated Emissions from

Medical Waste Incineration:
1. Particulate Matter
2. Carbon Monoxide
3. Dioxin
4. Sulfur Dioxide
5. Hydrogen Chloride
6. Nitrogen Oxides
7. Cadmium
8. Lead
9. Mercury
THERMAL INACTIVATION
 Thermal inactivation involves the treatment of waste

with high temperatures to eliminate infectious agents.
 This method is usually used for large volumes.
 Liquid waste is collected in a vessel and heated by
heat exchangers or a steam jacket surround the vessel.
 The types of pathogens in the waste determine the
temperature and duration of treatment.
 After treatment, the contents can be discharged into
the sanitary sewer.
 This method requires higher temperatures and longer
treatment cycles than steam treatment.
GAS/VAPOR STERILIZATION
 Gas/vapor sterilization uses gaseous or vaporized

chemicals as the sterilizing agents.
 Ethylene oxide is the most commonly used agent, but
should be used with caution since it is a suspected
human carcinogen.
 Because ethylene oxide may be adsorbed on the
surface of treated materials, the potential exists for
worker exposure when sterilized materials are handled.
CHEMICAL DISINFECTION
 Chemical disinfection is the preferred treatment for

liquid infectious wastes.
 Consider the following:
– Type of microorganism
– Degree of contamination
– Amount of proteinaceous material present
– Type of disinfectant
– Contact time
– Other relevant factors such as temperature, pH, mixing
requirements, and the biology of the microorganism
STERILIZATION BY IRRADIATION
Advantages of irradiation:
 Electricity requirements are nominal.
 Steam is not required.
 No heat or chemicals remain the treated waste.
The principal disadvantages are as follows:
 Capital costs are high.
 Highly trained personnel are required.
 Space requirements are great.
 Worker exposure as a result of leaks in seals or poor
work practices.
 Disposal of the radiation source may pose problems.
RADIOFREQUENCY IRRADIATION
 Large radiofrequency irradiation medical waste

treatment units include an initial destruction phase.
 The waste is automatically fed into a waste grinding
device where it is shredded and sprayed with steam to
increase the moisture content of the waste to
approximately 10 percent. The moist ground waste is
then heated by exposure to radiofrequency irradiation.
This process heats the waste to >90 C.
 The factors which affect radiofrequency irradiation
treatment of medical waste include the frequency and
wavelength of the irradiation, the duration of the
exposure, destruction and moisture content of the waste
material, temperature achieved throughout the waste
load during treatment, and waste storage duration.
MICROWAVE IRRADIATION
 Large microwave irradiation medical waste treatment units

include an initial destruction phase.
 The waste is automatically fed into a waste grinding device
where it is shredded and sprayed with steam to increase the
moisture content of the waste to approximately 10 percent. The
moist ground waste is then heated by exposure to six microwave
irradiation units over a 2 hour period. This process heats the waste
to > 90 C.
 The factors which affect microwave treatment of medical waste
include the frequency and wavelength of the irradiation, the
duration of the exposure, destruction and moisture content of the
waste material, process temperature, and the mixing of waste
during treatment.
DRAIN DISPOSAL
 Some liquid medical wastes, such as human blood,

may be disposed of in sinks if the waste is first
autoclaved or brought to a final concentration of 1
percent bleach.
 The following medical wastes may not be drain
disposed:
•Human or animal cultures suspected of containing
infectious agents
•Cultures and stocks of infectious agents
•Wastes from the production of infectious bacteria,
viruses, spores, discarded live and attenuated vaccines
 Non-infectious medical waste disposal should only be
made to sanitary sewers only.
DISPOSAL OF TREATED WASTE
 Infectious waste that has been effectively treated is

no longer biologically hazardous and may be mixed with
the disposed of as ordinary solid waste, provided the
waste does not pose other hazards that are subject to
federal or state regulations.
CONTINGENCY PLANNING
The infectious waste management plan should include

a contingency plan to provide for emergency situations.
The plan should include, but not limited to, procedures
to be used under the following circumstances:
 Spills of liquid infectious waste – cleanup procedures,
 Protection of personnel, and disposal of spill residue
 Rupture of plastic bags (or other loss of containment)
– cleanup procedures, protection of personnel, and
repackaging of waste
 Equipment failure – alternative arrangements for
waste storage and treatment (e.g. offsite treatment).
DECONTAMINATION
 All surfaces, tools, and other objects in contact

with potentially infectious materials must be
decontaminated and as soon as possible.
 Equipment and tools must be cleaned and
decontaminated before servicing or being put
back to use.
 Decontamination should be accomplished by
using
– A solution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (household
bleach / Clorox) diluted between 1:10 and 1:100 with
water.
– Lysol or some other EPA-registered tuberculocidal
disinfectant.
DECONTAMINATION
 To clean up spilled blood, you can carefully

cover the spill with paper towels or rags, then
gently pour your 10% solution of bleach over the
towels or rags, and leave it for at least 10
minutes.
 To decontaminate equipment or other objects
(be it scalpels, microscope slides, broken glass,
saw blades, tweezers, mechanical equipment
upon which someone has been cut, first aid
boxes, or whatever) you should leave your
disinfectant in place for at least 10 minutes
before continuing the cleaning process.
 Cleanup materials must be decontaminated.
DECONTAMINATION
Steps to Clean Up a Spill of Human Blood

 Wear gloves and lab coat to clean up spill.
 If broken glass is present, use forceps to pick
up and place in sharps container.
 Absorb blood with paper towels and discard in
biohazard waste container.
 Using a detergent solution, clean the spill site
of all visible blood.
 Wipe the spill site with paper towels soaked in
a disinfectant such as bleach diluted 1:10
 Discard all contaminated materials into
biohazard waste container.
 Wash hands with soap and water.
EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN
 Required when employees may be exposed to

bloodborne pathogens.
 This plan should include:
 Determination of employee exposure
 Implementation of methods of exposure control, including:
- Universal precautions
- Engineering and work practice controls
- Personal protective equipment
- Housekeeping
 Hepatitis B vaccination
 Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
 Communication of hazards to employees and training
 Record keeping
 Procedures for evaluating the exposure incident.
EXPOSURE STEPS
Despite the best precautions, exposure still can

occur. If a person is exposed to potentially
infectious materials try to minimize the exposure to
that person and others.
If a person is exposed, they should:
 Wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and
running water (use non-abrasive, antibacterial soap
if possible).
 If blood is splashed in the eye or mucous
membrane, flush the affected area with running
water for at least 15 minutes.
 See a physician immediately.
EXPOSURE STEPS
Report the Incident —

Employees should
immediately report
exposure incidents to the
employer to permit timely
medical follow-up.
EXPOSURE STEPS
Referral to a a Health
Care Professional (HCP)
— Following a report of an
exposure incident of a
bloodborne pathogen, the
employer shall make
immediately available to
the exposed employee a
confidential medical
evaluation and follow-up at
no cost to the employee.
EXPOSURE STEPS
Documentation — The employer

must prepare a report of the
exposure incident of a bloodborne
pathogen, including the route(s)
of exposure, the circumstances
under which the exposure incident
occurred, and the identity of the
source patient — if known, and if
permitted by law.
STAFF TRAINING
 Training should include an explanation of the

infectious waste management plan and assignment of
roles and responsibilities for implementation of the plan.
 Training programs should be implemented:
 When the infectious waste management plan are first
developed and instituted.
 When new employees are hired, and
 When infectious waste management practices change.
 Continuous education is also an important part of
staff training.
MERCURY
 EPA and AHA signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU).
 Lessons learned about mercury:
The risk of mercury spills is high. The cost to remedy spills
has proven to be very expensive.
Ninety-nine percent of a typical hospital’s mercury is
contained in esophageal dilators, sphygmomanometer
services kits, and barometers.
Total cost to replace mercury devices is modest, especially
in light of the cost of spills.
Non-mercury replacements are usually no more expensive
than their mercury counterparts.
MERCURY
 Removal of a mercury device must mean “get it out

of the hospital”, not merely out of service.
 Purchasing Departments and associated staff must
be vigilant in purchasing and accepting shipments of
supplies. Vendor substitution could bring mercury back
into the facility.
 Training for mercury auditing is best done on a one-
on-one basis, large groups make the process difficult.
 Mercury assessments must be performed in a safe
and open atmosphere, which encourages the discovery
of all sources of mercury.
CHECKLIST
A. SPILL PLAN EQUIPMENT & PROCEDURES

 Disinfectant
 Absorbent
 Shovel
 Gloves
 Public protection
 Bags and boxes
 Notification procedures
 Protective clothing
B. CONTINGENCY PLANS
 Alternate treatment site
 Other storage sites
 Exposure Control Plan
CHECKLIST
C. HANDLING & STORAGE

 Handling procedures followed
 Packaging procedures followed
 Packages are transferred properly
 Storage areas marked and locked
 Storage areas disinfected
D. HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING
 Risks associated with infectious waste
 Spill plan procedures
 Personal protective gear (gloves, aprons, goggles)
 Schedule of training
 Proof of training
RECORDS
What Records Must You Keep?
 Medical records of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

 Any training records on medical waste management.
 Any state or local requirements for shipping manifests
of medical wastes.
 Any state or local requirements for logs of equipment
used to treat medical wastes.
TIPS FOR USING CONTRACTORS
 Remember, You Control Your Facility or Area!

 Review Procedures With Them Before Starting the Job!
 Ensure They Are Properly Trained!
 Determine Their Environmental Compliance Record!
 Determine Who Is in Charge of Their People!
 Determine How They Will Affect Your Facility’s
Environmental Compliance!
ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL
MEDICAL WASTE PROGRAM
1. DETAILED WRITTEN MEDICAL WASTE INSPECTION

GUIDELINES.
2. DETAILED WRITTEN MEDICAL BEST MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES.
3. EXTENSIVE EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAMS
4. PERIODIC REINFORCEMENT OF TRAINING
5. SUFFICIENT DISCIPLINE REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION
6. PERIODIC FOLLOW-UP
THE IMPORTANCE OF A
CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
“I would ask all of us to remember

that protecting our environment is
about protecting where we live and
how we live. Let us join together to
protect our health, our economy,
and our communities -- so all of us
and our children and our Carol Browner
grandchildren can enjoy a healthy Former EPA
and a prosperous life.” Administrator

Medical Waste Management

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MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

 Understand the Definition of Medical Waste, Regulated Medical

Definition of Medical Waste

Components of an Infectious Waste Management Plan:

The infectious waste plan for your

 Selection of packaging materials that are appropriate

 Each year there are some 600,000 incidents where

To protect against needlestick injuries, take the

 Promptly dispose of used needles in

 Containers are rigid puncture-resistant containers

Storage temperature and duration are important

 Avoidance of mechanical loading devices that may

There are several methods that have been successful in

 Autoclaving (heating under high pressure) is widely

 Plastic bags should be placed in a rigid container

 Persons involved in steam sterilizing should be trained in

Newly Regulated Emissions from

 Thermal inactivation involves the treatment of waste

 Gas/vapor sterilization uses gaseous or vaporized

 Chemical disinfection is the preferred treatment for

 Large radiofrequency irradiation medical waste

 Large microwave irradiation medical waste treatment units

 Some liquid medical wastes, such as human blood,

 Infectious waste that has been effectively treated is

The infectious waste management plan should include

 All surfaces, tools, and other objects in contact

 To clean up spilled blood, you can carefully

Steps to Clean Up a Spill of Human Blood

 Required when employees may be exposed to

Despite the best precautions, exposure still can

Report the Incident —

Documentation — The employer

 Training should include an explanation of the

 EPA and AHA signed a Memorandum of

 Removal of a mercury device must mean “get it out

A. SPILL PLAN EQUIPMENT & PROCEDURES

C. HANDLING & STORAGE

What Records Must You Keep?

 Medical records of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

 Remember, You Control Your Facility or Area!

1. DETAILED WRITTEN MEDICAL WASTE INSPECTION

“I would ask all of us to remember

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