Virginia

Regulated Medical Waste

Managing Regulated Medical Waste
Transporting Regulated Medical Waste
OSHA Regulations
Statutes, Regulations and Guidelines
Contacts
More Information

• Cultures and stock of microorganisms and biologicals;
• Human blood and human body fluids;
• Tissues and other anatomical wastes;
• Sharps. (needles, syringes, etc.);
• Animal carcasses, body parts, bedding and related wastes;
• Any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill of any RMW; and
• Any solid waste contaminated by or mixed with RMW.

• The facility and all RMW activities are in compliance with all state and local requirements;
• More than 75% (by weight, in a calendar year) of all RMW that is stored, treated or disposed of by the facility is generated on-site;
• No RMW is transported from or received by the facility without being properly packaged and labeled. Facilities storing RMW will indicate the first date that the waste was placed in storage date on the outer packaging of the RMW;
• The activities at the facility do not involve the placing of RMW directly into or on the land;
• The owner or operator of the facility has notified the director in writing that the facility is operating under an on-site permit by rule;
• The owner or operator of the facility has submitted to the director a certification from the local governing body, without qualifications, conditions, or reservations, that the location and operation of the facility are consistent with all applicable ordinances;
• The owner or operator of the facility has submitted to the director appropriate Key Personnel Disclosure Statements; and
• A person certified by the Board of Waste Management Facility Operators will operate the facility.

• When RMWs are discarded, they shall be placed in containers that meet the requirements of the standards for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The general industry standard requires the packaging to be closable, constructed to prevent leakage, labeled with the biohazard symbol, and closed to prevent spillage during handling. Upon being placed in storage, red bags shall be used for the packaging of all RMW. Packaging shall be labeled as required;
• Contaminated sharps shall be placed directly in containers as required by the general industry standards. The containers shall be labeled as required;
• As bags and containers become full, they shall be sealed such that no waste materials can leak;
• Prior to transporting RMW, waste will be packaged for transportation in accordance with the standards of 49 CFR Part 173 or packaged in accordance with an exemption approved by the United States Department of Transportation;
• Waste shall be labeled. The label shall be securely attached to or printed on packaging. The label may be a tag securely affixed to the package. Indelible ink shall be used to complete the information on the label. The label and the information provided on the label must be clearly legible. The following information shall be included:
  • The name, address and business telephone number of the generator;
  • "RMW" in large print; and
  • The Biological Hazard Symbol.
• All etiological agents that are transported must be packaged and labeled in accordance with federal and other applicable regulations;
• Sharps must be placed directly into puncture resistant containers as required by the general industry standards in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A); and
• Persons packaging RMW shall wear appropriate items of personal protective equipment

• The waste in the cart or container is packaged and labeled fully in accordance with state regulations;
• Immediately following each time a reusable cart or container is emptied and prior to being reused it is thoroughly cleaned with detergent or general purpose disinfectant; and
• When reusable carts or containers containing RMW are used for off-site transport, all aspects of the cart or container management shall comply with all applicable federal Department of Transportation Hazardous Material Regulations.

• Take appropriate precautions to ensure personnel do not come into contact with any contaminants by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment;
• Repackage spilled waste in accordance with required packaging requirements;
• Transport any regulated medical waste by a registered transporter;
• Clean and disinfect any areas having been contacted by RMW.
• Materials used to decontaminate the area will be disinfectants effective against mycobacteria; and
• Take necessary steps to replenish containment and cleanup kit.

• All regulated medical waste must be incinerated, sterilized by steam, or treated by a method as described in the RMW regulations.
• No RMW shall be disposed of in a solid waste landfill or other solid waste management facility. Upon authorized treatment and management, the solid waste or its ash is not RMW and may be disposed of at any permitted landfill or other permitted solid waste management facility.
• Regulated medical waste in closed bags or containers shall not be compacted or subjected to violent mechanical stress; however, after it is fully treated and it is no longer regulated medical waste, it may be compacted in a closed container.

• A list of the members of any committee for the management of infection control for the facility, their address, their phone numbers and the period of their membership;
• The date, persons involved and short description of events in each spill of more than 32 gallons of regulated medical waste or one quart of regulated medical waste consisting of free liquid;
• A notebook or file containing the adopted policies and procedures of the facility for dealing with regulated medical wastes;
• A log of all special training received by persons involved in regulated medical waste management; and
• A log of regulated medical waste received from off-site, the generator, the amount and its storage and receipt dates. Records shall be maintained for a period of three years and be available for review.

• A signed certificate for each load received in which the generator affirms that the load does not contain hazardous waste or radioactive materials; and
• signed and effective contract, inclusive of all loads received from a generator, in which the generator affirms that all loads will not contain hazardous waste radioactive materials, except as provided under the regulations.

• All transporters must be registered with the DEQ prior to transporting any RMW and been issued a registration number.
• RMW stored for more than seven days must be refrigerated and kept at an ambient temperature between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. A vehicle that is parked for more than 24 hours during transport will be considered a storage facility.
• A covered loading area is not required if RMW are in a container that is resistant to the elements
• Transporters must keep transport vehicles sanitized and decontaminated.