New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Chapter II - Administrative Rules and Regulations
Subchapter I - Environmental Health
Part 70 - Regulated Medical Waste
Subpart 70-2 - Management Of Regulated Medical Waste
Section 70-2.2 - Containment and storage
Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 12, March 20, 2024
(a) Regulated medical waste shall be separated from other waste as soon as practicable at the point of generation prior to storage, treatment or disposal. Containers holding regulated medical waste containing or mixed with hazardous waste, radioisotopes and/or toxic drug waste shall be so labeled to identify waste types contained therein and so as to provide other information, including but not limited to isotope and level of radioactivity pertinent to determining whether specific procedures for management and/or disposal are applicable. Radiological medical waste shall be stored until decayed to a background radiation level prior to transport off-site of the generating facility and/or treatment.
(b) Containment of regulated medical waste for handling, storage, and treatment shall be accomplished with a primary container for protection from the elements and limiting exposure to employees and the public. Each primary container holding regulated medical waste shall be:
(c) Whenever regulated medical waste is transported off-site for treatment elsewhere, the primary container shall have affixed a label or imprint indicating the name and address of the generation facility and shall comply with the transport requirements of subdivision (h).
(d)
(e)
(f) Regulated medical waste, with the exception of sharps as provided in subdivision (e) of this section, may be held in patient care areas for a period not to exceed 24 hours and at a clinical laboratory for a period not to exceed 72 hours, at which time the waste shall be moved to a storage area.
(g)
(h) Prior to transport off-site of the generating facility for treatment elsewhere:
(i) All internal surfaces of a reusable secondary container used to hold regulated medical waste shall be completely protected by a disposable liner, which may also function as the primary container provided it meets the criteria for a primary container provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) of this section. The liner shall be removed as a secured unit with the waste and treated as regulated medical waste. A reusable secondary container shall undergo washing and decontamination upon emptying whenever the liner is compromised; visual inspection yields evidence that the container's surface has come in contact with the contained waste prior to treatment; the contained waste includes cultures and/or stocks; or the contained waste has a highly infectious bioload.
(j) Under no circumstances shall regulated medical waste be transferred from one container to another (e.g., for consolidation or loading of a treatment system) in a manner that compromises health and safety of the persons handling the waste. Regulated medical waste being moved from one container to another, or one location to another within a facility shall as a minimum be secured in a primary container.
(k) Reusable sharps containers shall not be opened for consolidation or other purposes unless such procedure has been approved as part of the facility's treatment system operation plan.
(l) Disposable secondary containers for storing and handling regulated medical waste shall be treated as regulated medical waste.
(m) Transport of regulated medical waste within a facility from the point of generation to the point of storage or treatment shall be by covered cart or other appropriately covered conveyance system marked prominently with signage indicating that the contents are infectious or are regulated medical waste; provided, however, waste held in containers meeting the definition of secondary container may be transported within a facility from point of generation to the point of storage or treatment using an open conveyance system (e.g., laboratory cart or dolly) provided each container is labeled and appropriately closed. Regulated medical waste shall not be moved within a facility by gravity alone without control of impact, i.e., trash chutes or slides.
(n) Regulated medical waste shall not be compacted unless it has undergone treatment as provided in section 70-2.3 of this Subpart.