Presented By: George WeishoffMay 17, 2012

Medical Waste Removal & Disposal

ProperMedicalWastePackaging

• Properpackagingofmedicalwaste• Classificationsofwaste• PackagingProcedures• Commonmistakes• Regulations

Overview

• SoftWaste• Paperproducts,gauze,gowns,gloves,IVtubing(withoutneedles),

softplasticitems• SharpsWaste

• Syringes,needles,metalinstruments,glass,slides,hardplasticitems• LiquidWaste

• Anyliquidwasteover20ccmustbeplacedinaleak‐proofcontainer• Hazardouswasteshouldneverbeputintoamedicalwastecontainer• TraceChemotherapeuticandPathologicalWastemustbeplacedinseparatecoloredcontaineroraboxlabeledwiththeappropriatelabel

• Non‐Hazardous,Non‐RCRA,Non‐DEAorControlledSubstancesmustbeplacedinseparatecontainerandlabeledwiththeappropriatelabel

ClassificationofWaste

Regulationsarethesameregardlessofwhetheryouareusingcardboardmedicalwasteboxesorreusableplasticmedicalwastetubs.

MedicalWastePackagingProcedures

AllregulatedmedicalwastemustbeplacedintoaDOTapprovedredbagpriortosealingorclosingthemedicalwasteboxorreusablemedicalwastetub.

PackagingProcedures

LabelingSharpsContainers

Allfullsharpscontainersmustbelabeledwiththegenerator’sname andaddress priortobeingplacedintothemedicalwasteboxorreusablemedicalwastetubforfinaldisposal.

PackagingofFullSharpsContainers

Sharpscontainersthatarefullshouldbeclosedandlockedandthenplacedintotheredbagthatisliningthemedicalwasteboxorreusablemedicalwastetub.

FinalClosureoftheRedBag

Theredbagsmustbetiedinasingleknotbeforethemedicalwasteboxorreusablemedicalwastetubisclosedandsealed.

LabelingtheBag

Theinnerredbagmustalsobelabeledwiththegenerator’sname andaddress.

PackagingProceduresCont.

Thephotototheleftshowsareusablemedicalwastetubthatisnotproperlypackaged.Theinnerredbagisnottiedandmaterialisprotrudingoutsidethecontainer.

Containersthatarecorrectlyclosedwillhavethelidsplacedsecurelyonthereusablemedicalwastetub,withoutanyobstructionsormaterialsprotrudingfromthecontainer,asseeninthepicturetotheleft.

AllBoxesmustbeproperlysealedusing2”polytape.Bothflapsshouldbesecuredusingasinglestripofpolytapedownthemiddleseem.

ClosingandTapingtheBox

LabelingtheBox

Themedicalwasteboxandreusablemedicalwastetubmustbelabeledwiththegenerator’sname,address,NJDEP#anddateofshipment.Theboxandtubshouldalsohavethetransporter’sname,NJDEP#andidentifythecontentsasregulatedmedicalwaste.

CommonPackagingMistakes

Looseneedlesmayneverbeplaceddirectlyintotheredbag.Theymustbefirstplacedintoasharpscontainer.Thesharpscontainerthenmustbeclosedandlockedpriortobeingplacedintothemedicalwasteboxorreusablemedicalwastetub.

CommonPackagingMistakes

Fullsharpscontainersmustalwaysbeclosedandlockedpriortobeingplacedintothemedicalwasteboxorreusablemedicalwastetub.

CommonPackagingMistakes

Un‐solidifiedsuctioncanistersshouldneverbeplacedintothemedicalwasteboxorreusablemedicalwastetubwithoutfirstbeingplacedintoaleakproofcontainerorasolidifyingagentaddedtothecanisterandclosingallthecapssothatthecontainerissecureandleakproof.

InordertomeetDOTstandardsfortransportation,medicalwasteboxesandreusablemedicalwastetubsmustbeproperlysealed.4– flappingaboxbecauseyoucouldnotfindanytapeisnot anacceptablesealingstandardforDOT.

CommonPackagingMistakes

Medicalwasteboxesmustbepackaged,sealed,storedandtransportedinaccordancetothearrowsprintedonthebox.

Alwaysadheretowhichwaythearrowsontheboxarepointingduringpackagingtominimizethatchanceofleakage.

CommonPackagingMistakes

• Visit:http://1.usa.gov/JdPxF8• PackagingRequirements(7:26‐3A.11)• LabelingRequirement(7:26‐3A.14)• Marking(7:26‐3A.15)

N.J.A.C.7:26‐3A.1(2009)Regulations

THANKYOUFORYOURTIMEANDTHEOPPORTUNITYTOSPEAKINFRONTOFYOU

George Weishoff, PresidentMED-FLEX, Inc.

Tel: 609-518-9900Fax: 609-518-9980

gweishoff@med-flex.comwww.med-flex.comMedical Waste Removal & Disposal