Biohazard and infectious wastes are regulated and must be contained and disposed of properly under OSHA regulations. Regulated Waste under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 is defined as:
“liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.“*
If your facility works with regulated biohazard waste items, you need to provide appropriate containment that meets OSHA requirements. Containers must be leakproof, closable, and labeled or color coded1, as well as meet other standards laid out in the regulations of Toxic and Hazardous Substances2. Fortunately, there are a variety of safety disposal products available today that provide ready-made, compliant temporary storage of contaminated biological waste.
Justrite™ White Biohazard Waste Cans: Steel cans feature leakproof construction with foot operated self-closing lid. These 6 or 10 gallon metal cans may be used to store regulated waste (but are not to be used for sharps) and meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 for the segregation of infectious waste.
Eagle™ HDPE Biohazardous Waste Cans advise workers of potential biohazards by their red color. They also feature a self closing lid with foot lever. These 6, 10 and 14 gallon poly waste cans meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 for exposures to blood borne pathogens.
Sharps Disposal Containers must meet a more stringent set of requirements3 than regular hazardous waste cans, and they have to be puncture resistant as well safe for biohazard waste.
Plastic Sharps Containers with rotating Top Entry chambers are designed to safely deposit sharps into the puncture resistant container.Most of these containers can be mounted to a wall or placed on a bench top. A disposable option includes cardboard disposal pouches, ideal for collection and disposal of small quantities of contaminated waste.
1Sources for Regulations and Product Compliance:
www.OSHA.gov
www.justrite-mfg.com
www.eagle-mfg.com
2[Biohazard Container] Labels: 1910.1030(g)(1)(i)
1910.1030(g)(1)(i)(A)
Warning labels shall be affixed to containers of regulated waste, refrigerators and freezers containing blood or other potentially infectious material; and other containers used to store, transport or ship blood or other potentially infectious materials, except as provided in paragraph (g)(1)(i)(E), (F) and (G).
1910.1030(g)(1)(i)(B)
Labels required by this section shall include the following legend:
1910.1030(g)(1)(i)(C)
These labels shall be fluorescent orange or orange-red or predominantly so, with lettering and symbols in a contrasting color.
1910.1030(g)(1)(i)(D)
Labels shall be affixed as close as feasible to the container by string, wire, adhesive, or other method that prevents their loss or unintentional removal.
1910.1030(g)(1)(i)(E)
Red bags or red containers may be substituted for labels.
3Contaminated Sharps Discarding and Containment: OSHA 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)
1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(1)
Contaminated sharps shall be discarded immediately or as soon as feasible in containers that are:
1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(1)(i)
Closable;
1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(1)(ii)
Puncture resistant;
1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(1)(iii)
Leakproof on sides and bottom; and
1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(1)(iv)
Labeled or color-coded in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this standard.
Read the complete OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030 on Toxic and Hazardous Substances – blood borne pathogens.
Plastic Coated Glass Bottles keep chemists safe when working with hazardous chemicals by combining the chemical resistance of glass with the safety of plastic. The plastic safety coating protects the container from being affected by pressure build up, and if the glass does break for some reason, the plastisol can contain the chemicals in the bottle long enough to allow for proper disposal.