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lJ Dignity nit Heal 0 <br />St. loseph's Medical Center <br />At the medical waste accumulation site, biohazard waste bags are placed into <br />labeled, Biohazard (autoclave only) transport barrels, provided and maintained by <br />Stericycle. Many of the accumulation sites line these transport containers with a <br />compliant biohazard bag labeled as passing both ASTM 1709 and ASTM 1922 <br />standards. This bag is secured shut prior to snapping the barrel lid closed and <br />labeling it with the vendor transport stickers. <br />If a biohazardous spill occurs, place absorbent materials, such as paper towels, <br />onto the spill area. Pour a freshly diluted 10% solution of bleach onto the <br />absorbent paper towels, soaking the absorbent towels, and work from the outside <br />of the spill toward the center. Allow the 10% bleach to be in contact with the spill <br />surface for 30 minutes. After the appropriate amount of time, remove the paper <br />towels and discard as biohazardous waste, then clean and rinse the spill area <br />completely. For detailed guidance refer to the Spill Response Plan. <br />Sharps Biohazard Waste <br />The following procedures must be followed when handling sharps biohazard waste: <br />• Dispose sharps contaminated with biohazard waste, including blood or other <br />potentially infectious bodily fluids in leak- and puncture -proof sharps container <br />labeled with a biohazard sticker. Do not dispose of sharps contaminated with <br />hazardous chemicals or radioactive materials. <br />• Do not fill sharps container above recommended fill line, or more than 3/4 full. <br />• When the container is 3/4 full, tightly close and shut the lid before disposal to the <br />accumulation area. Do not keep full sharps container for more than thirty days. <br />• Do not bring sharps container that is open, broken, or overfilled into the <br />accumulation waste area. Broken lids can be fixed by using a strong adhesive tape <br />i.e., packing tape or duct tape. <br />Solid Incineration Waste <br />Solid incineration waste includes pathology and trace chemotherapy waste, which is both <br />non- pharmaceutical and non -mixed waste. The following procedures must be followed <br />when handling solid incineration waste: <br />• Incineration waste can be stored in either a red biohazard bag, or one that is <br />colored for the specific type of waste, such as white for pathology or yellow for <br />trace chemotherapy. When a bag is ready for disposal, twist and tie the bag with <br />an overhand knot, plastic zip tie, or nonporous tape (bag must be twisted and then <br />folded over on itself before taping). Bags must be tied to prevent leakage or <br />expulsion of contents during all future storage, handling, or transport <br />procedures. <br />• Pathology waste will be segregated in a waste bag that is within a secondary <br />container. The container will be labeled with the words "Pathology Waste" or <br />"PATH" on the lid and sides, so it can be seen from any lateral direction. <br />