Source: http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/8752.html
Timestamp: 2016-05-24 23:30:03
Document Index: 315312684

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1910', 'arts 171', 'arts 172', 'arts 360', 'art 70', 'art 70', 'art 70', 'art 172', 'art 172', 'art 360', 'art 364', 'art 360', 'art 70']

Guidance for Regulated Medical Waste Treatment, Storage, Containment, Transport and Disposal - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Home » Regulations and Enforcement » Guidance and Policy Documents » Solid Waste Guidance » Guidance for Regulated Medical Waste Treatment, Storage, Containment, Transport and Disposal
Albany, New York 12233-7260
TREATMENT, STORAGE, CONTAINMENT,
In addition to both ECL and PHL, federal regulations govern RMW management and disposal, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens regulations at 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. These are designed to protect workers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens which may include RMW, and the new U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations in 49 CFR Parts 171, 172, 173 and 178, as amended by Docket No. HM-181G regarding the interstate shipment of RMW. The DOT regulations in part, provide uniform transportation standards (medical waste tracking requirements) and packaging standards for RMW. Both Chapter 438 and the federal regulations have impacted New York State's program for RMW, and raised concern in the regulated community over the applicability of existing State regulations, caused misconceptions about what materials are RMW, or whether there are hazards associated with its disposal.
For example, with the revision to the definition of RMW, some materials that were previously RMW are now allowed to be disposed of as solid waste. Under the previous definition, which conformed with the federal MWTA, materials generated in healthcare did not have to come in contact with a patient to be considered RMW. An example of this is IV bags and bottles. The sterile solutions found in these containers are used to provide a vehicle for delivery of medication. Although such items never came into contact with a patient, the federal government believed that because they "looked medical" they must be included as RMW. Under the revised ECL and PHL these items are not considered RMW. Another example would be materials which have come into contact with small quantities of body fluids such as blood. Under the revised definition, unless completely saturated to the point of dripping, these materials are not considered RMW. Therefore, items such as bandages and gauze pads which are tinged with blood (or other body fluids) may now be placed in the general commercial waste stream.
To initiate a public education program and to address the changes resulting from the enactment of Chapter 438, the DOH collaborated with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on RMW issues and developed guidelines entitled "Managing Regulated Medical Waste, Interpretive Guidelines For Implementing Revisions to PHL 1389AA-GG" (December 1995). The DOH guidelines provide an interpretation of Chapter 438, including new definitions and examples of RMW, discuss relevant OSHA standards, and offer guidance on various treatment and disposal strategies for the healthcare community. The DOH guidelines have been distributed to all New York State healthcare facilities and represent a very useful tool for properly identifying and segregating RMW. All other RMW generators are encouraged to review and become familiar with the DOH guidelines since such information can be used as a template for managing RMW in their own facilities. Solid waste disposal facilities are also encouraged to review the DOH guidelines to become familiar with what is now allowed to be disposed as solid waste and to help alleviate concerns or misconceptions about the hazards associated with disposal of properly treated RMW at such facilities.
These DEC interpretive guidelines include commonly asked questions about the management and disposal of RMW. The response provided to each question represents DEC's current policy and interpretation to conform with the ECL and 49 CFR Parts 172 and 173. However, these interpretive guidelines are not intended as legal advice, but as an aid to understanding the law and DEC regulations. It is also important to understand that the information contained in these interpretive guidelines should not be considered a substitute for the existing laws and regulations, but should be used with the appropriate ECL, Parts 360 and 364 regulations, and if applicable, 10 NYCRR Part 70 Regulated Medical Waste (Part 70) regulations and the DOH Interpretive Guidelines for Implementing Revisions to PHL and managing RMW.
It is important to recognize that both the DOH and DEC jointly administer New York State's RMW program. For example, the DOH has jurisdiction for all treatment, storage and destruction processes located on-site of, and operated by health care facilities licensed pursuant to Article 28 of the PHL, and clinical laboratories licensed pursuant to Subsections 571 through 580 of the PHL. In addition to administering the Part 70 regulations, the DOH is responsible for developing treatment standards, approving alternative RMW treatment processes, developing and approving the certificate of treatment form, and responding to incidents involving physical injury associated with exposure to RMW. The DEC has jurisdiction for all storage, treatment and destruction processes located on-site of facilities not under DOH jurisdiction, for off-site transport of treated and untreated RMW for all generators, tracking, responding to illegal disposal incidents, and for all off-site treatment, storage, transfer and disposal facilities.
Generator Standards - Questions Commonly Asked
A RMW generator is an institution which through its activities creates RMW. Examples of such institutions include, but are not limited to, hospitals, clinical laboratories, veterinarians, funeral homes, nursing homes, home healthcare providers, physician's offices, research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, colleges and universities (including basic medical or clinical microbiology laboratories), blood banks, company infirmaries, and correctional facilities.
WHAT ARE THE RMW GENERATOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES?
Yes. Untreated RMW, except sharps, must be placed in impermeable red plastic bags (of sufficient strength to prevent tearing or bursting under normal conditions of use and handling) that include as an integral part of the bag, the word biohazard or the universal biohazard symbol. Existing stocks of bags which were previously required to be labeled with either the word "infectious" or the words "regulated medical waste" may be used until supplies are depleted. When reordering bags, institutions must acquire bags which meet the labeling requirements of the ECL. Each bag containing untreated RMW must be labeled and placed in a secondary rigid type container according to DEC regulations before off-site transport. The rigid containers used for disposal of RMW may be any color, but must be leakproof, have tight fitting covers, and if reusable, must be kept clean, and in good repair. Each container must be conspicuously labeled with the word biohazard or with the universal biohazard symbol. In addition, the waste must be stored in a package labeled according to DEC regulations and 49 CFR Part 172. Sharps [e.g., discarded syringes (barrel and/or needle) and those other sharps that have come in contact with infectious agents] must be packaged in rigid, puncture and break resistant, and leakproof containers labeled with the word biohazard or the universal biohazard symbol, and conform to the DEC regulations and the 49 CFR Part 172 Packing Group II performance level before off-site transport. The packaging group number indicates the degree of danger presented by a material. Packing Group II is considered to signify medium danger. These sharps containers must also be labeled and placed in a secondary rigid type container (or DEC authorized alternative) in accordance with DEC regulations before off-site transport.
Under the DEC regulations, each primary container (a red bag), sharps or fluid container destined for off-site treatment and disposal must include the generator facility name and address. Each secondary container must include the generator facility name and address, the transporter's name and permit number, the date of shipment and identification of the RMW contents (e.g., sharps, chemotherapeutic waste, and pathological waste), and include the word biohazard or the universal biohazard symbol. In addition, a MWTF is also required.
Facilities authorized by the DEC to treat or destroy RMW on-site may not accept RMW from other generators for treatment and/or destruction purposes unless authorized in accordance with Part 360. RMW treatment facilities and destruction processes that are located on-site of licensed health care facilities that as a community service, accept for treatment or disposal, RMW from off-site generators, must comply with subdivision 360-17.1(c) and Part 364. [Note: Healthcare facilities that treat or destroy RMW received from off-site generators that receive a fee or payment above the cost for this service may be operating as a commercial RMW treatment and or destruction facility. In addition, healthcare facilities that import RMW that exceeds the storage and treatment capacity of the host facility, or accepts RMW from generators located outside of the host facility's geographic location (DEC Region) may be operating as a commercial RMW treatment or destruction facility. As a commercial entity, these facilities may be subject to additional requirements which may include but not be limited to the submittal of operation, contingency and personnel training plans, environmental assessments, reviews, or required to obtain a Part 360 permit. Such facilities must contact the Bureau of Permitting and Planning, DEC Division of Materials Management, phone (518) 402-8678, for a determination.]
In all cases of spills, the generator (if at a generating facility), the transporter (if in transit) or the RMW transfer and disposal facility must immediately take steps to contain, disinfect if necessary, and clean up the spilled materials. A generator under DEC's jurisdiction (facilities under DOH jurisdiction must notify the DOH) is not required to report spills that occur at the facility to the DEC unless public health or the environment is at risk. All other spills must be reported to the DEC's spill hotline (1-800-457-7362) or the appropriate DEC Regional Materials Management Engineer within 48 hours of the spill. A list of the DEC regional phone numbers is included with these guidelines. The responsible party must develop a report of the incident, identifying the measures used to clean up and dispose of the RMW, and must retain the incident report for three years. All spilled materials must be packaged, labeled and transported according to DEC and DOT regulations.
If any questions should occur regarding the household sharps program, contact the DOH NYS Safe Sharps Collection Program at (518) 417-4746.
Applicable Regulations - 10 NYCRR Part 70
"Managing Regulated Medical Waste."
Applicable Regulations - 6 NYCRR
Interpretive "Guidance for Regulated
Containment, Transport and Disposal"
Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Clinical Labs
On-site RMW Management by
Commercial RMW Storage,
Approving Alternative Treatment Technologies
Solid Waste Transfer Stations &
Physical Injury Associated with RMW
Response to Illegal Disposal
(631) 444-0375
Stony Brook, NY 11790 - 3409