School Infection Control Handbook - 2010

Appendix A: Development of Protocols

Appendix A.4. Regulatory Categories and Definitions of Waste

Definition of Waste

Agency/Regulation Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Regulated Waste – Biohazardous Waste: x Liquid or semiliquid blood or other potentially infectious materials x Contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semiliquid state if compressed x Items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling x Contaminated sharps x Pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials Infectious or Physically Dangerous Medical or Biological Waste: Blood and blood products: x Discarded bulk human blood and blood products in liquid state x Body fluids contaminated with visible blood 1. Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness 2. Pose a substantial potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed x Materials saturated/dripping with blood Waste that because of its characteristics may:

Bloodborne Pathogen Standard 1910.1030

Massachusetts Department of Public Health State Sanitary Code Title VIII 105 CMR 480.000 For information about California regulations, see Notes a

Physically Dangerous Medical or Biological Waste: 1. Sharps x Blood and blood products

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 310 CMR 19.000

2. Pathological wastes; cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals; contaminated animal carcasses; contaminated bedding

For information about California regulations, see Notes b Massachusetts Department of Public Health State Sanitary Code Title VIII 105 CMR 480.000

Special Waste: x Solid waste that is not hazardous waste pursuant to 310 CMR 30.000 and that exists in such quantity or a state that management controls are required to prevent an adverse impact from its collection, transport, transfer, storage, processing, treatment or disposal

Hazardous Waste: x There are two ways a waste may be identified as hazardous: it may be

Massachusetts Department of

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