N.J. Admin. Code § 7:26-3A.37

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:26-3A.37 - Transporter management of spills

(a) All transporters shall develop and implement a Spill Management Plan to govern the management and decontamination of regulated medical waste spills. The Spill Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved by the Department.

1. This section shall not apply to transporters that are generators of less than 50 pounds of regulated medical waste per month and that transport RMW pursuant to 7:26-3A.17(a).

(b) All transporters shall maintain at each site and in each vehicle used to transport regulated medical waste a copy of the Spill Management Plan and appropriate equipment and supplies for cleaning up a spill of regulated medical waste, including but not limited to, the following:

1. A spill containment and cleanup kit in each area utilized for the collection, transfer, storage, treatment, packaging or other such handling of regulated medical waste. All vehicles operating under a New Jersey regulated medical waste transporter registration, or any out-of-State transporter transporting regulated medical waste through New Jersey in accordance with 7:26-3A.27(g), shall carry a spill containment and cleanup kit in the vehicle whenever regulated medical waste is transported. Personnel shall be trained in the use of the kit. The kit shall contain, at a minimum, the following:

i. Absorbent material for spilled liquids. The absorbent material shall have a rated capacity of one gallon of liquid for every cubic foot of regulated medical waste that is usually managed in the area for which the kit is provided or 10 gallons, whichever is less.

ii. One gallon of disinfectant in a sprayer capable of dispersing its charge in a mist and in a stream. The disinfectant shall be of hospital grade and of a formulation described in (c) below and be effective against mycobacteria.

iii. Fifty plastic bags that meet the requirements of 7:26-3A.11(b)2, 3 and 4 along with sealing tape (or devices for sealing), and appropriate labels as required by 7:26-3A.14. The plastic bags shall be large enough to overpack any box or other container usually used by the customers of the transporter for regulated medical waste packaging;

iv. Two sets of overalls, gloves, boots, caps, protective eye covering, and protective breathing devices all of which must be disposable and impermeable to liquids. Overalls, boots and caps shall be oversized or fitted to medical waste handlers and be made of a moisture resistant or moisture-proof material. When sharps are known not to be present, gloves for handling regulated medical waste shall be durable and moisture resistant or moisture proof. When sharps are known to be present or may be present, gloves for handling such waste shall be puncture resistant or puncture proof in addition to being moisture resistant. Boots shall be of durable moisture resistant or moisture proof material that does not tear under the stress of walking. At a minimum, protective breathing devices shall include surgical masks. The kit shall also contain tape for sealing wrists and ankles of the protective overalls;

v. Scoops, shovels, push brooms, and buckets;

vi. A first-aid kit, boundary marking tape, fire extinguisher, lights, and other appropriate safety equipment;

vii. A suitable means of communication for summoning aid in an emergency, and

viii. A copy of the approved Spill Management Plan as described at (a) above.

(c) Disinfection and routine decontamination procedures for soiled surfaces include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Exposure to hot water of at least 82 degrees Celcius (180 degrees Fahrenheit) for a minimum of 15 seconds; or

2. Exposure to a chemical sanitizer by rinsing with or immersion in a chemical disinfectant. Such disinfectants shall be registered with the USEPA as hospital disinfectants that are tuberculocidal, fungicidal, virucidal and effective against HIV-1. Also approved for this specific purpose as a disinfectant is ten percent volume/volume of sodium hypochlorite and water.

(d) In case of any spill of any regulated medical waste, the transporter shall immediately take steps to contain and clean up the regulated medical waste in accordance with the procedures specified in the Spill Management Plan.

1. The spill of any medical waste by a transporter shall be immediately reported by the transporter or its designee to the DEP Emergency Response 24-hour Hotline at 1-877-WARNDEP.

2. The transporter shall submit a written accident report to the Department within 48 hours of the occurrence of any spill of regulated medical waste on an accident report form provided by the Department. A copy of the report shall be kept on file for a minimum of three years from the date of submission in the same location as the registration certificate. The record retention period shall be extended during the course of any unresolved litigation, or when otherwise required by the Department.

(e) In certain cases, the Department may allow a modified spill kit to be used. The contents of this modified spill kit shall be specific to the operations of a particular RMW transporter. The Department shall deem the contents of the modified kit as adequate to contain RMW spills that may occur specific to the transporter applying for the modification. If a modified spill kit is warranted, a letter stating so shall be issued by the Department.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:26-3A.37

New Rule, R.1996 d.578, effective 12/16/1996.
See: 28 New Jersey Register 2114(a), 28 New Jersey Register 5248(a).
Former section, "Temporary authorization to operate a regulated medical waste incinerator", was recodified to N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.38.
Amended by R.2002 d.181, effective 6/17/2002.
See: 33 New Jersey Register 4218(a), 34 New Jersey Register 2049(a).
In (d), amended the phone number in 1; added (e).