Biomedical Waste - Any solid or liquid waste presenting a threat of infection to exposed humans. This may include non-liquid tissue, body parts, blood, blood products, body fluids containing human disease-causing agents; and discarded sharps.
Biomedical Waste Generator - A facility or person producing a biomedical waste.
EH&S - The Environmental Health and Safety Department of Florida Gulf Coast University.
Point of Origin - The room or area where a biological waste is generated.
Puncture Resistant - Able to withstand punctures from contained sharps during normal usage and handling.
Restricted - The use of a lock, sign, or location, to prevent unauthorized entry.
Sharps - Objects capable of puncturing, lacerating, or otherwise penetrating the skin.
Site-specific biomedical waste plan - The plan developed by each generator outlining the specific procedures for segregation, handling, labeling, storing, and disposing of biomedical waste generated at that site.
Transport – moving biomedical waste on a public road.
Treatment – Any process, including steam, chemical exposure, microwave shredding, or incineration, which changes the character or composition of biomedical waste to render it noninfectious.
1. Each biomedical waste generator must have a written site-specific biomedical waste plan describing how that generator complies with the requirements set forth in this document.
2. Identify and segregated biomedical waste from other wastes at the point of origin. Segregate contaminated sharps from non-sharps biological waste.
3. Treat all biological waste known to contain NIH Risk Group 3 or 4 agents through autoclaving or other treatment method.
4. Biological waste mixed with hazardous waste, are managed as a hazardous waste while maintaining compliance with Chapter 64E-16.
5. Radioactive biomedical waste will be decayed in storage or disposed according to the FGCU Radiation Safety Manual.
6. Package biomedical wastes before the leave the restricted area. All biomedical waste, except sharps, shall be packaged and sealed in impermeable, red plastic bags. The bags supplied by EH&S meet the specifications of 64E-16.011 F.A.C.
7. Discard sharps at the point of origin into a sharps container. Seal sharps containers when full. The international biological hazard symbol at least one inch in diameter must be on all sharps containers. Note: “Broken Glassware”, not contaminated with biological material, goes into separate, specially marked containers disposed with the regular trash.
8. Place sealed biomedical waste bags and sealed sharps containers into the biomedical waste container provided by EH&S. Tape all of the box seams, and do not overfill.
9. Place solid materials from a spill cleanup into an appropriate package and disposed as biomedical waste. Clean any surface contaminated with biomedical waste with a solution of detergent to remove visible soil and then disinfected with a bleach solution, alcohol, or other appropriate germicidal solution.Dispose of liquid wastes from a chemical disinfection operations via the sanitary sewer system.
10. Train employees who may handle biomedical waste as part of their work responsibilities trained in the proper management of biomedical waste as detailed in the site specific biomedical waste plan. This training must occur before the employee comes into contact with biomedical waste, and annually thereafter so long as the employee’s continues to involve biomedical waste. Maintain a record of the training for at least 3 years.
11. Only use transporters registered with the Florida Department of Health to transport biomedical waste. Presently MWaste Medical Waste Technologies of Naples provides these services for the University.
1. Biomedical waste storage at a generating facility may not exceed 30 days. The 30-day period begins when the first non-sharps item of biomedical waste is generated, or when a sharps container storing only sharps is sealed.
2. Indoor storage areas shall have restricted access and be designated in the site specific biomedical waste plan. They shall be located away from pedestrian traffic (storage cannot be in hallways, restrooms, classrooms, or other readily available public areas). Storage areas shall be vermin and insect free, and maintained in a sanitary condition.
3. Outdoor storage areas and containers must be conspicuously marked with the international biological hazard symbol, and be secured against vandalism and unauthorized entry.
4 The biomedical waste shed behind CSC is the main on-site storage location for biomedical wastes. Other temporary storage locations may be designated with approval from EH&S.
5. All outer waste containers must be rigid, leak resistant and puncture resistant. Reusable outer containers shall be constructed of smooth, easily cleanable materials and shall be decontaminated after each use.
6. All biomedical waste, except sharps, shall be packaged and sealed in impermeable, red plastic bags meeting the specifications of 64E-16.0011. The bags supplied by EH&S meet this specification.
1. Persons handling packages or spills of biological waste shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment as specified in Subpart Z of 29 C.F.R.1910.1030(d)(3), which includes, but is not limited to, gloves, gowns, laboratory coats, and face shields or masks and eye protection as needed.
2. Repackage ruptured or leaking packages of biological waste prior to transport.
3. Only a State approved transporter (currently MWaste Medical Waste Technologies of Naples) may remove the biomedical waste containers from campus.
1. Biomedical waste bags and sharps containers shall be labeled with the generators name and address unless treatment occurs at the generating facility. If a bag or sharps container is placed into a larger bag prior to transport, the label for the exterior bag shall comply with these labeling requirements. Inner bags and inner sharps containers are exempt. Outer containers shall be labeled with the transporter's name, address, registration number, and 24-hour telephone number prior to transport.
2. The transporter may provide labels for bags or sharps containers that are generator specific, such as bar codes or specific container numbers.
3. All packages containing biomedical waste shall be visibly identifiable with the international biological hazard symbol and one of the following phrases:"BIOMEDICAL WASTE", "BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE", "BIOHAZARD","INFECTIOUS WASTE", or "INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE". The symbol shall be red, orange, or black and the background color shall contrast with that of the symbol or comply with the requirements cited in subpart Z of 29 C.F.R.paragraph 1910.1030(g)(1)(C), Occupational Exposure to Blood borne Pathogen Standard.
1. Environmental Health & Safety will maintain the required records documenting transportation and disposal of biomedical waste (manifests, certificates of destruction, and invoices).
2. Biomedical waste generators must maintain their site-specific written procedures and training records. All biomedical waste records must be maintained for a minimum of 3 years.
This is the procedure for EH&S Personnel during the pick-up, handling, and storage of biomedical wastes on campus. Biomedical waste is transported from the generator sites to the central storage site when a pick-up is requested by a generator, or according to a regular schedule.
Training
Prior to handling biomedical wastes employees must complete training in biological safety and satisfactorily pass the EH&S biosafety exam. Employees certified by an appropriate organization (ABIH, IHMM, ASSE, ABSA, etc) with on-going education requirements are exempt from the annual re-training requirement.
Procedure
1For non-routine biomedical waste pick-ups, determine a mutually acceptable time when the generator will be available to address any unexpected issues with the waste. If there is a problem with the biomedical waste and the generator is not available, leave the waste and schedule the pick-up for another time.
2Check the weather before going to pick-up waste. Reschedule the pick-up, if conditions are less than optimal due to storms or other weather conditions.
3Insure your cell phone is with you and working, in case you need assistance. Insure other EH&S personnel know of your schedule.
4Load leather and vinyl gloves, replacement containers with bag, bungee cords, emergency /clean-up kit, and safety cones onto the mule.
5Don safety glasses and protective gloves before entering laboratories.
6No labeling is required. All boxes are pre-labeled, and bags inside containers will be labeled by M-Waste according to their pick-up procedure.
7Ensure that bags sealed. If the bag is not sealed, tie the top of the bag into an overhand knot.
8Insure that boxes are sealed with all flaps taped down securely. Plastic container lids must be snapped down securely. Use bungee cords for loose lids.
9Wear protective leather work gloves to handle and transport the waste. Place the container in the bed of the mule. If the container seems unstable, secured it using rope, a retaining rod, or bungee cords.
10Select a route to the biomedical waste shed that avoids sidewalks or uneven terrain, however, also avoid traveling the main road if possible.
11Store the waste in the biomedical waste shed located behind Whitaker Hall. Arrange the waste containers in the shed in a stable manner to prevent tipping.
