(1) You must discard contaminated sharps immediately, or as soon as possible, in containers that are all of the following:

(a) Closable;

(b) Puncture resistant;

(d) Appropriately labeled or color-coded;

(e) Easily accessible to personnel;

(f) Located as close as feasible to the immediate area where sharps are used or areas sharps can be reasonably anticipated to be found (for example, laundries);

(g) Maintained upright throughout use;

(h) Replaced routinely and not allowed to overfill.

EXEMPTIONS:

Work areas such as correctional facilities, psychiatric units, pediatric units, or residential homes may have difficulty placing sharps containers in the immediate use area. In such situations, alternatives such as using lockable containers or bringing containers in and out of the work area may be used.

Note:

For additional information on placement and use of sharps containers see Selecting, Evaluating, and Using Sharps Disposal Containers, NIOSH Publication 97-111, January 1998. You can obtain a copy of this publication by calling 1-800-35-NIOSH or get an electronic version in pdf at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/97-111/.

(2) You must make sure when you move containers of contaminated sharps, the containers are:

(a) Closed prior to removal or replacement to prevent spilling or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping; and

(b) Placed in a secondary container, if leaking is possible. The second container must be:

(i) Closable;

(ii) Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;

(iii) Appropriately labeled or color-coded.

(3) You must make sure regulated waste other than sharps is placed in containers that are all of the following:

(a) Closable;

(b) Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;

(c) Closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;

(d) Placed in a second container if outside contamination of the primary regulated waste container occurs.

(4) You must make sure the second container is appropriately labeled or color-coded.

(5) You must dispose of all regulated waste according to applicable state and county regulations.

PDFWAC 296-823-14060

Handle regulated waste properly and safely.