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Lodi Memorial Hospital 8420.151 Facilities Management L-8440.005 Safety Management; Environmental Services Revised: August 1998 Medical Waste Management Guidelines Page 4 of 6 4135 W. Swift Ave. Fresno, CA 93722 MEDICAL WASTE STERILIZATION At the MAIN FACILITY only, a Mark -Costello autoclave is used for medical waste sterilization. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS The only material to be sterilized in this unit shall be that which is determined to be Biohazardous Waste as defined at the beginning of these guidelines 2. Only employees in Facilities Management, including both Environmental Service and Maintenance divisions may perform operation of the waste sterilizer unit. a. All employees that are required to operate the waste sterilizer must be trained and oriented to the full operation of the unit prior to initiating any operational actions. b. Training will be provided and documented by Environmental Services Manager or designee. Training documentation will remain on file. 3. Each load will run for a minimum of 45 minutes and be maintained at a temperature reading of 270 degrees F. 4. The pressure gauge must hold at 40 -lbs. pressure while the unit is in operation. 5. Chart readings must be clearly visible when processed or repeat completion of the cycle will occur after changing the marking pen. Not more than 1 cycle with pale markings will be accepted. 6. 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. 7. Sterilized medical waste is no longer considered to be a contaminated material and is then disposed of into the solid waste compactor. WASTE PREPARATION FOR STERILIZATION PROCESSING Always wear protective fluid proof gloves and cover gowns when handling medical waste prior to processing. 2. Transport medical waste from collection points to the sterilizing unit in the approved cart off. 3. Place all medical waste for processing, into the appropriate autoclave bags and close securely with a twister tie or tie into a knot. 4. Always check the graph to assure completion of the processing and clear marking of the temperature and pressure gauge. a. If the graph does not show the appropriate temperature and minutes processed, then the load must be run again. b. Check the nut and ink marker on the graph to assure it is on appropriately.