Section 250-RICR-140-15-1.7 - Packaging and Containment of Regulated Medical WastesA. General Packaging and Containment Requirements Regulated medical waste shall be properly packaged to assure effective containment throughout the handling, storage, transport, and treatment process. In addition to the specific packaging and containment requirements for each category of regulated medical waste contained in §§ 1.7(B) and (C) of this Part, the following general requirements shall be met before transporting or offering for transport such waste off-site or within the generating facility: 1. Generators shall ensure that all regulated medical waste is placed in a container or containers that are: c. Impervious to moisture;d. Of a strength sufficient to prevent tearing or bursting under normal conditions of use and handling; and,e. Sealed to prevent leakage during transport.2. Materials for packaging shall be strong enough to remain intact during whatever type of handling, storage, and transport the container(s) may undergo.3. Mechanical compaction of regulated medical waste shall not be conducted prior to treatment and/or disposal, unless the mechanical compaction and treatment are part of a single, self-contained process that does not place employees or the public at risk of exposure to untreated regulated medical waste.4. Training/Notification Requirement: Generators shall notify in writing all employees involved with packaging and containment of regulated medical wastes of the provisions in § 1.7 of this Part. This training/ notification shall be accomplished through the use of a medical waste procedure manual and/or through appropriate training materials.B. Packaging Requirements for Sharps 1. In addition to the general packaging and containment requirements for regulated medical wastes in § 1.7(A) of this Part, all sharps and unused sharps, including sharps with residual fluids, shall be packaged in containers that are puncture resistant. Any sharps placed into such a container shall not be manipulated inside the container and/or shall not be removed from said container under any circumstances. The sharps shall be placed directly into the container without recapping, clipping, bending, or breaking unless one of the following criteria are met: a. The employer can demonstrate that the requirements of this section are not feasible for a specific medical procedure; or,b. Such recapping or needle removal is accomplished through the use of a mechanical device or one-handed technique specifically approved in writing by the Director.2. Sharps containers shall be assembled and utilized as intended by the manufacturer at all times while in use. Sharps containers with openings large enough to allow entry of any human hand shall also be subject to any additional physical and/or administrative controls necessary to prevent access by the public during normal conditions of use.3. The container shall be sealable in a manner that prevents spillage of contents during transport. The container shall identify the contents as regulated medical waste by displaying the Universal Biohazard Symbol on the outside of the container.C. Packaging Requirements for Fluids in Bulk Quantities In addition to the general packaging and containment requirements for regulated medical wastes in § 1.7(A) of this Part, human blood and blood products and body fluids in quantities greater than twenty cubic centimeters (20 cm3) shall be packaged in containers that are break resistant and tightly lidded or stoppered. The container shall identify the contents as regulated medical waste by displaying the universal biohazard symbol on the outside of the container.D. Packaging Requirements for Human Pathological Wastes In addition to the general packaging and containment requirements for regulated medical wastes contained in § 1.7(A) of this Part, pathological wastes shall be placed in a container marked or labeled with the words "pathological waste", "path waste", "pathology waste" or "incinerate only" or other labels approved by the Department on the lid or on the sides. Any waste placed in a container so marked must be managed as pathological waste in accordance with the requirements of these regulations.E. Packaging Requirements for Animal Pathological Waste In addition to the general packaging and containment requirements for regulated medical wastes contained in § 1.7(A) of this Part, Carcasses of animals contaminated with highly communicable endemic animal diseases listed in § 1.22 of this Part, shall be handled in accordance with special handling instruction in § 1.22 of this Part.F. Packaging and Containment Requirements for Other Regulated Medical Wastes In addition to the general packaging and containment requirements for regulated medical wastes in § 1.7(A) of this Part, those regulated medical wastes which are not sharps or fluids in bulk quantities, (including, but not limited to, cultures and stocks, non-liquid pathological wastes, non-liquid animal wastes (where the waste presents a risk of zoonotic disease), non-liquid isolation wastes, materials saturated with blood) shall be packaged in either rigid containers that are designed to be tightly sealable or in plastic bags that meet the following requirements: 1. The plastic bags shall be impervious to moisture and be tear resistant;2. The plastic bags shall be a distinctive red or orange color, or clear (i.e., without color). If a clear bag is used then the universal biohazard symbol shall be appropriately displayed on the bag;3. In order to allow the use of "single plastic bags", the bags shall be constructed of material of sufficient single thickness strength to pass the 165 gram dropped dart impact resistance test as prescribed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Dart Test (ASTM Standard #D 1709 91) and certified by the manufacturer. Otherwise, "double bagging" (i.e., the use of two plastic bags, one inside the other) is required.4. A container (e.g., a step can) used on-site to hold regulated medical waste shall have either a red or orange plastic bag plainly visible; or if a clear bag is used then the universal biohazard symbol shall be displayed on the container as well as on the bag.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-140-15-1.7
Amended effective 4/22/2020