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Lodi Memorial Hospital 8420-EC3-Section C2 Facilities Management 0 9 Page C-7 of 10 Environment of Care; Hazardous Materials and Wastes Management Revised: July, 2006 MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES Manager or Facilities Coordinator must be notified immediately. i) All waste to be sterilized will be secured inside the appropriate sterilizing bags that are designed with a color strip that changes in color to brown indicating the material has been appropriately autoclaved. j) Sterilized medical waste is no longer considered to be a contaminated material and is then disposed of into the solid waste compactor. 5 WASTE PREPARATION FOR STERILIZATION PROCESSING a) Always wear protective fluid proof gloves and cover gowns when handling medical waste prior to processing. b) Transport medical waste from collection points to the sterilizing unit in the approved cart only. c) Place all medical waste for processing, into the appropriate autoclave bags and close securely with a twister tie or tie into a knot. d) Always check the graph to assure completion of the processing and clear marking of the temperature and pressure gauge. e) If the graph does not show the appropriate temperature and minutes processed, then the load must be run again. f) Check the nut and ink marker on the graph to assure it is on appropriately. g) If a question develops regarding the operation of the unit, check all valves and then notify Maintenance. h) Never place any waste into the solid waste compactor if there is doubt it has not been sterilized. If there is concern the sterilizer unit is not working properly, place the waste into containers within the fenced area for removal by the contracted disposal service provider per our contract. Immediately notify Facilities Management office of your findings and actions to avoid delay in repair and possible overfilling of containers within the storage area. 6. STERILIZER UNIT OPERATION a) Obtain keys for unit from the basement janitors' room. Do not attempt to open door of the unit unless the pressure gauge has no reading indicated. When the door of the unit is safe to open the pressure gauge will drop to 0" (zero). Always check this gauge first and proceed when safe. b) Unlock the padlock and move the chain out of the locked position. Do not remove lock and chain away from the unit. Stand away from the unit to allow the safe release of any steam that may be inside the unit and lift the locking latch at the top. c) Turn the arrow knob on the unit handle to the up position. Move the handle up and down until the door releases. Open door, fasten the door open with the hook attached to the back wall to prevent the door from closing on you.