(a)
Regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste shall be placed in containers that
are:
(1) Leakproof on the sides and bottom
and maintained in an upright position.
(2) Impervious to moisture.
(3) Sufficient in strength to prevent
puncturing, tearing or bursting during storage.
(b) In addition to the requirements of
subsection (a), used sharps shall be placed in containers that are:
(1) Rigid.
(2) Tightly lidded.
(3) Puncture resistant.
(c) In addition to the requirements of
subsection (a), regulated medical waste fluids in quantities greater than 20
cubic centimeters and chemotherapeutic waste fluids shall be placed in
containers that are:
(1) Break
resistant.
(2) Tightly lidded or
tightly stoppered.
(d)
When bags are used as the only container, double or multiple bagging shall be
employed and the following requirements shall be met:
(1) Upon packaging, the bags shall be
securely tied.
(2) The bags must be
constructed of material of sufficient single thickness strength to meet the
following:
(i) The ASTM Standard D1709,
Test Method for Impact Resistance of Polyethylene Film by the Free
Falling Dart Method, with an impact resistance of 165 grams or greater
(Method A).
(ii) The ASTM Standard
D1922, Propagation Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by
Pendulum Method, with a tearing resistance, parallel and perpendicular
to the length of the bag of 480 grams.
(iii) If the standards in subparagraphs (i)
and (ii) are modified by ASTM, the standard that is in effect on the date of
manufacture of the bags shall be applied.
(3) Bags must include one of the following
certifications indicating that the ASTM standards have been met:
(i) Each bag must contain a printed
certification by the manufacturer.
(ii) The manufacturer may issue a
certification letter to the regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste
generator and print a certification on each packaged lot of the bags.
(4) Bags must have sufficient seam
strength that is at least equal in resistance to tearing and equally
impermeable as the other portions of the bag.
(5) Bags must be fluorescent orange,
orange-red or red in color for regulated medical waste and yellow in color for
chemotherapeutic waste and contain colorants that are organic pigments with no
heavy metal content.
