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Lodi Memorial Hospital0 8420.151.2 Facilities Management 8750.504 Safety Management; Infection Control Revised: September 1998 Page 1 of 3 Medical Waste Management Guidelines Infection Control Subsection POLICY It is the policy of Lodi Memorial Hospital to manage all phases of medical waste according to the Medical Waste Management Guidelines, #8420.151. This subsection is provided to identify processes necessary for nursing staff in the immediate patient care area. A. DEFINITIONS OF WASTE BY TYPE Medical waste generated or handled at a Lodi Memorial Hospital facility consists of biohazardous waste and sharps waste. These wastes result from patient diagnosis or treatment where blood and certain body fluids or other contaminates exists. Trauma scene waste may be collected at times when ambulance service providers and other emergency responders deliver patients for medical attention. B. COLLECTION PROCESSES Environmental Service Technicians are trained in the appropriate measures for collection of medical waste prior to being scheduled to perform related duties. Documentation of the training and orientation is kept on file in the Environmental Services office. Training information includes but is not limited to the following instructions. 1. Always use the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during collection or handling of medical waste. This includes the use of fluid proof gloves, cover coat and face shield when there may be a risk of splashing into the face area such as during the cleanup of a spill. 2. Medical waste is segregated from other types of waste by containment in disposable biohazardous bags that are a minimum of 1.5 mil in thickness, moisture proof, and meet A.S.T.M. standards. The bags are red in color and printed to identify contents. 3. Needles and sharps are collected in disposable, rigid, puncture -proof containers and placed into the lined reusable plastic tubs for transporting to storage area and stored. The reusable collection tubs are kept in the soiled utility rooms in the areas where medical waste is generated until collected for transporting to storage areas by Environmental Service Technicians. 4. Chemotherapeutic waste is placed in the appropriate boxes in the fenced area by Environmental Services staff. a. All trace contaminated (e.g., empty vials, ampoules, IV bottles/bags, tubing and sharps) will be deposited in specially marked, yellow collection container labeled with the words "Chemotherapy Waste" or "Chemo". b. When the container is full, without compacting, the locking lid is to be secured to prevent loss of contents prior to disposal. C. Gowns, gloves, and other trace contaminated non -sharps objects may also be deposited in the container. d. A contracted medical waste hauler for transport picks up the containers to an approved incineration facility when routine medical waste is hauled away for treatment. 5. Medical waste collected from a patient isolation area is considered BIOHAZARDOUS under all circumstances and must be placed into approved RED bags.