Arizona
Biohazardous
Medical Waste
Waste
Categories
Arizona
classifies wastes generated by health care facilities into
four main categories:
Hazardous
wastes. This refers to a class of wastes specifically
defined in a federal law (the Resource conservation and
Recovery Act, or RCRA). These wastes contain certain toxic
chemicals or have certain characteristics that cause them
to be a significant risk to the environment and/or human
health. Some chemotherapy waste is hazardous waste. In
Arizona, hazardous waste regulations are enforced by the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality
Medical
waste. Medical waste means any solid waste which is
generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization
of human beings or animals, in research, or in the production
or testing of biologicals. It does not include any hazardous
waste, radioactive waste, or household waste.
Biohazardous
Medical Waste. These are a special subcategory of medical
waste that presents significant health risks such as the
potential for infectious disease transmission, and special
rules apply to them.
Municipal
solid waste. These wastes present fewer environmental
or health risks than medical wastes. Municipal solid waste
can be disposed of into dumpsters.
It is important
that you categorize your facility’s waste accurately.
- Hazardous
waste disposed of as biohazardous medical waste or municipal
solid waste, or biohazardous medical waste disposed of
as municipal solid waste are violations of the law and
can result in substantial penalties.
- Conversely,
most medical waste may be handled as general solid waste
and does not require special handling or treatment.
- Correctly
identifying and segregating your biohazardous medical waste
can reduce the cost of disposal, because it usually makes
up only a small portion of the total medical waste stream. Some
facilities, such as long-term care facilities, generate
medical waste, but little or no biohazardous medical waste. Use
the guidance and references below to accurately categorize
your wastes. For additional help, see Contacts below.
- Infectious
waste that is treated to specific standards can be disposed
of as municipal solid waste, provided that no local rules
prohibit it.
Definition
of Biohazardous Medical Waste
The definition
of biohazardous medical waste is found in Arizona Administrative
Code Article 14 (AAC R18-13-1401 to 1420). Biohazardous
Medical Waste is composed of one or more of the following:
- Cultures
and stocks generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization
of a human being or animal or in any research relating
to that diagnosis, treatment or immunization, or in the
production or testing of biologicals.
- Human
blood and blood products.
- Human
pathologic waste such as discarded organs and body parts
removed from surgery.
- Medical
sharps used in animal or human patient care, medical research,
or clinical laboratories.
- Research
animal wastes such as animal carcasses, body parts, and
bedding of animals that have been infected with agents
that produce, or may produce, human infection.
Managing Biohazardous Medical
Waste
In
Arizona regulations apply to the following:
- A
generator who treats biohazardous medical waste on site,
before disposing of it as treated medical waste, and
to any equipment used for that purpose.
- A
generator who contracts with a medical waste treatment
facility for the purpose of treating biohazardous medical
waste.
- A
person who transports biohazardous medical waste and
any motor vehicle used for that purpose.
- A
medical waste treatment facility operator, a medical
waste treatment facility, and any equipment used for
medical waste treatment.
- A
person who generates medical sharps in the preparation
of human remains.
- A
person who generates medical sharps in the treatment
of animals.
- A
generator of discarded drugs not returned to the manufacturer.
The
following persons are exempt from the regulations:
- Law
enforcement personnel handling biohazardous medical waste
for law enforcement purposes.
- A
person in possession of radioactive materials.
- A
person who returns unused medical sharps to the manufacturer.
- A
household generator residing in a private, public, or
semi-public residence.
- A
generator that separates medical devices from the medical
waste stream that are sent out for re-processing and
returned to the generator.
- A
person who sends used medical sharps via the United States
Postal Service or private shipping agent to a treatment
facility.
Packaging
Requirements
A
generator who sets biohazardous medical waste out for collection
for off-site treatment or disposal must package the biohazardous
medical waste in either of the following:
- A
red disposable plastic bag that is:
- Leak
resistant,
- Impervious
to moisture,
- Of
sufficient strength to prevent tearing or bursting
under normal conditions of use and handling,
- Sealed
to prevent leakage during transport,
- Puncture
resistant for sharps, and
- Placed
in a secondary container constructed of materials that
will prevent breakage of the bag in storage and handling
and should bear the universal biohazard symbol
- A
reusable container that bears the universal biohazard
symbol and that is:
- Leak-proof
on all sides and bottom, closed with a fitted lid,
and constructed of smooth, easily cleanable materials
that are impervious to liquids and resistant to
corrosion by disinfection agents and hot water.
- Used
for the storage or transport of biohazardous medical
waste and cleaned after each use unless the inner
surfaces of the container have been protected by
disposable liners, bags, or other devices removed
with the waste. “Cleaning” means agitation to
remove visible particles combined with exposure
to hot water, an EPA-approved chemical disinfectant
or any other method that the Department determines
is acceptable.
- A
generator must handle any container used for the storage
or transport of biohazardous medical waste that is not
capable of being cleaned as described, or that is disposable
packaging, as biohazardous medical waste.
- A
generator must not use reusable containers for any purpose
other than the storage of biohazardous medical waste.
8 A
generator must not reuse disposable packaging and liners
and must manage such items as biohazardous medical waste.
Storage
Requirements
Once
biohazardous medical waste has been packaged for shipment
off-site, a generator must provide a storage area for biohazardous
medical waste until the waste is collected and must comply
with both of the following requirements:
- Secure
the storage area in a manner that restricts access to,
or contact with the biohazardous medical waste to authorized
persons
- Display
the universal biohazard symbol and post warning signs
worded as follows for medical waste storage areas: “CAUTION-BIOHAZARDOUS
MEDIAL WASTE STORAGE AREA UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP
OUT”
Beginning
at the time the waste is set out for collection, a generator
who stores biohazardous medical waste must comply with
all of the following requirements:
- Keep
putrescible biohazardous medical waste unrefrigerated
if it does not create a nuisance. However, refrigerate
at 40 F or less putrescible biohazardous medical waste
kept more than seven days
- Store
biohazardous medical waste for 90 days or less unless
the generator has obtained facility plan approval under
A.R.S. and is in compliance with the design and operational
requirements
- Keep
the storage area free of visible contamination
- Protect
biohazardous medical waste from contact with water, precipitation,
wind or animals. A generator must ensure that the waste
does not provide a breeding place or a food source for
insects or rodents
- Handle
spills by re-packaging the biohazardous medical waste,
re-labeling the containers and cleaning any soiled surface
as prescribed
- If
odors become a problem a generator must minimize objectionable
odors and the off-site migration of odors.
A
generator may place a container of biohazardous medical
waste alongside a container of solid waste if the biohazardous
medical waste is identified and not allowed to co-mingle
with the solid waste. The storage area must not be used
to store substances for human consumption or for medical
supplies.
On-Site
Treatment of Biohazardous Medical Waste
A person who treats biohazardous medical waste on site must
use incineration, autoclaving, or an alternative medical
waste treatment method that meets the treatment standards.
Incineration. The
following rules apply to incineration.
A
generator who incinerates biohazardous medical waste on
site must comply with all of the following requirements:
- Obtain
a permit if required by the local or state air quality
agency having jurisdiction.
- Reduce
the biohazardous medical waste, excluding metallic items,
into carbonized or mineralized ash.
- Determine
whether incinerator ash is hazardous waste as required
by hazardous waste rules under A.R.S.
- Dispose
of the non-hazardous waste incinerator ash at a Department-approved
municipal solid waste landfill.
Autoclaving. The
following rules apply to autoclaving.
A
generator who autoclaves biohazardous medical waste on
site must comply with all of the following requirements:
- Further
process by grinding, shredding, or any other process,
any recognizable animals and human tissue, organs, or
body parts, to render such waste non-recognizable and
ensure effective treatment.
- Operate
the autoclave at the manufacturer’s specifications appropriate
for the quantity and density of the load.
- Keep
records of operational performance levels for six months
after each treatment cycle; and keep records of equipment
maintenance for the duration of equipment use that include
the date and result of all equipment calibration and
maintenance.
Alternative
Methods. The following rules apply to alternative
methods.
A
generator who uses an alternative treatment method on site
must comply with all of the following requirements:
- Use
only alternative treatment methods registered with the
sate of Arizona.
- Further
process by grinding, shredding, or any other process,
any recognizable animals and human tissue, organs, or
body parts, to render this waste non-recognizable and
ensure effective treatment.
- Follow
the manufacturer’s specifications for equipment operation.
- Supply
upon request the Arizona Departmental of Environmental
Quality registration number for the alternative medical
waste treatment technology and the type of biohazardous
medical waste that the equipment is registered to treat,
and the equipment specifications that include operating
procedures and instructions for maintenance, testing
and calibration.
- Maintain
a training manual regarding the proper operation of the
equipment.
- Maintain
a treatment record consisting of a log of the volume
of medical waste treated and a schedule of calibration
and maintenance performed under the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Maintain
treatment records for six months after the treatment
date for each load treated.
- Maintain
the equipment specifications for the duration of equipment
use.
Additional
Responsibilities for On-Site Treatment. A generator
must:
- Package
the treated medical waste according to the waste collection
agency’s requirements.
- Attach
to the package or container a label, placard, or tag
with the following words: “This medical waste has been
treated as required by the Arizona Department of Environmental
Quality standards” before placing the treated medical
waste out for collection as a general solid waste.
- Upon
request of the solid waste collection agency or municipal
solid waste landfill, provide a certification that the
treated medical waste meets the standards of the regulations.
- Make
treatment records available for Departmental inspection
upon request.
- Handle
medical sharps as prescribed in the regulations.
- A
generator of chemotherapy waste, cultures and stocks,
or animal waste must handle that waste as prescribed
in the regulations.
Biohazardous
Medical Waste Transported Off Site for Treatment
A
generator of biohazardous medical waste must:
- Package
the waste as prescribed in the Regulations (see packaging
requirements above) before self-hauling or before setting
the waste out for collection by a transporter.
- Obtain
a copy of the tracking document signed by the transporter
signifying acceptance of the biohazardous medical waste. A
generator must keep a copy of the tracking document for
one year from the date of acceptance by the transporter. The
tracking document must contain the name and address of
the generator, transporter, and medical waste treatment,
storage, transfer, or disposal facility; the quantity
of biohazardous medical waste collected by weight, volume,
or number of containers; the identification number attached
to bags or containers; and the date the biohazardous
medical waste is collected.
- Handle
the waste as prescribed in the regulations if a generator
of chemotherapy waste, cultures and stocks, or a generator
of animal waste.
- Handle
the waste as prescribed in the regulations if a generator
of medical sharps.
A
person must obtain solid waste facility plan approval from
the Department as prescribed in the regulations to construct
any facility that will be used to store, transfer, treat,
or dispose of biohazardous medical waste that was generated
off site. Plan approval must be obtained before starting
construction of the medical waste treatment or disposal
facility.
Transportation
A
transporter must register with the Department in addition
to possessing a permit, license, or approval if required
by a local health department, environmental agency, or
other governmental agency with jurisdiction.
A
person who transports biohazardous medical waste must maintain
in each transporting vehicle at all times a transportation
management plan consisting of both of the following;
- Routine
procedures used to minimize the exposure of employees
and the general public to biohazardous medical waste
throughout the process of collecting, transporting, and
handling
- Emergency
procedures used for handling spills or accidents
A
transporter who accepts biohazardous medical waste from
a generator must leave a copy of the tracking document
described in the regulations with the person from whom
the waste is accepted. The document must accompany the
person who has physical possession of the biohazardous
medical waste. Upon delivery, the transporter must obtain
a copy of the tracking document, signed by a person representing
the receiving facility, signifying acceptance of the biohazardous
medical waste.
A
transporter who transports biohazardous medical waste in
a vehicle dedicated to the transportation of biohazardous
medical waste must ensure that the cargo compartment can
be secured to limit access to authorized persons at all
times except during loading and unloading. In addition,
the cargo compartment must be constructed in compliance
with one of the following:
- Have
a fully enclosed, leak-proof cargo compartment consisting
of a floor, sides, and a roof that are made of a non-porous
material impervious to biohazardous medical waste and
physically separated from the driver’s compartment.
- Haul
a fully enclosed, leak-proof cargo box made of a non-porous
material impervious to biohazardous medical waste.
- Tow
a fully enclosed leak-proof trailer made of a non-porous
material impervious to biohazardous medical waste.
A
person who transports biohazardous medical waste in a vehicle
not dedicated to the transportation of biohazardous medical
waste, but that is used longer than 30 consecutive days,
must comply with the Arizona regulations.
OSHA
Regulations
In addition
to the state medical waste incinerator regulations there
are some Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
rules that apply to medical/infectious waste. Arizona is
one of 24 states operating an approved occupational safety
and health program. This program is operated by the Arizona Division of Occupational
Safety and Health. OSHA rules (Occupational Exposure
to Bloodborne Pathogens Standards) impact various aspects
of medical/infectious waste, including management of sharps,
requirements for containers that hold or store medical/infectious
waste, labeling of medical/infectious waste bags/containers,
and employee training. These requirements are summarized
in the HERC section entitled OSHA Standards for Regulated
Waste. Also, see the HERC Occupational Safety and Health
page for Arizona for specific state information.
Statutes,
Regulations and Guidelines
Arizona Administrative
Code Article 14
Contacts
Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality
Arizona Division of Occupational
Safety and Health
More
Information
Arizona
OSHA Inspection Activity, Hospitals, 2000-2005=
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