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LODI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL <br />FACILITIES MANAGEMENT D-8420-50 <br />ENVIRONMENT OF CARE REVISED: APRIL, 2007 <br />MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PAGE 1 OF 2 <br />TRANSPORTING COLLECTED MEDICAL WASTE <br />I. POLICY <br />Environmental Services Technicians transport collection tubs to designated areas for off-site disposal or <br />sterilization, according to policy. Medical waste is transported from areas where generated to the waste <br />storage cages or locked containers by the most direct route, minimizing exposure to patients, visitors, staff, and <br />community. <br />II. PURPOSE <br />To minimize exposure of biohazardous waste to patients, visitors, staff, and community. <br />III. PROCEDURE <br />A. At no time shall Biohazardous Waste be transported inside an elevator where food products are stored <br />or being transported. <br />B. Medical Waste will not be placed in the compactor where routine solid waste is collected for disposal. <br />C. Some types of medical waste generated at the MAIN FACILITY are processed using an autoclaving <br />biohazardous waste sterilizer. The waste sterilizer is located in the loading dock area on the north side <br />of the building (See EOC Policy # D-8420-70, "Medical Waste Sterilization"). <br />D. Transporting the collected medical waste for waste sterilization at the MAIN FACILITY uses one <br />single large -size cart. <br />The cart is used only to transport collected red bagged medical waste to the waste sterilizer <br />for processing. <br />The cart is never used for storage except for loads waiting for processing while the sterilizer <br />is in operation. <br />Carts must be closed and locked when waiting for the next processing cycle if waste has <br />been placed inside. <br />E. Suction containers are removed from the source and placed into "Suction Containers Only" collection <br />tub in dirty utility rooms. The filled collection tubs are taken directly to the locked storage area for <br />off-site disposal by a contracted service provider. <br />F. Medical Waste Collection tubs or carts are never used for anything except to transport or store <br />biohazardous waste items. <br />G. Disposal containers are lined prior to filling. Once filled, the liner is then closed off and tied into a <br />knot. The lid for the container is then securely fastened and a pre-printed tracking label is applied to <br />the upper section of the container near the lid. The label is not placed on the container's lid. <br />H. Preparation of collected medical waste for off-site removal by contracted hauler is as follows: <br />in <br />